Background of the Programme
After many years of involvement in the training and development of teachers in policy matters and the RNCS/NCS in more than one province, we came to realise that there is an urgent need for a supporting programme for teachers and learners that will ensure engagement with and implementation of the RNCS/NCS and other policies. STEPPS Educational Services stand for the engagement and implementation of National and Provincial policies. In the training that we provide, we advocate the ‘acceptance’ and implementation of policies.
ISSUES/CHALLENGED IDENTIFIED
During Whole School Evaluation if was found that a number of teachers and learners do not engage with the policy documents. One would found the policy documents were ‘filed’ in a cupboard.
- A number of teachers find it very difficult to understand the policy documents as well as the RNCS/NCS – even after all the training offered to them.
- A number of schools tried to ‘marry’ the Nated 550 with OBE (RNCS/NCS). This resulted in duplication of work and ineffective policy implementation.
- In many schools resource material are treated as the ‘curriculum’ and are used as the only text book. Teachers tend to work through text books.
- Teachers find the administrative work very frustrating due to
the following:
- It’s very time consuming and a never ending process;
- The proposed planning process is an enormous task for teachers to implement. They find it somehow impossible to implement;
- A number of teachers are not computer literate and it is impossible to implement the proposed planning processes without computers;
- In general teachers find CASS and other assessment policies difficult to implement. They find the paper work involved in assessment too difficult.
- Teachers are complaining that is become so difficult to teach. Learners are used to TV and Computers (multimedia). There is a lack of multimedia resource materials.
- Some schools find support inefficient.
STEPPS provide teachers and learners with:
- An animated, colourful and user-friendly format of some of the relevant policy documents. From feedback received, it is clear that this colourful, animated format of the policy on CD assists teacher and learners in the reading, understanding and implementation of the policy documents. These documents do not interfere with the creativity of the teacher or the unique context of the school.
- An user-friendly format of Learning Areas policies, as well as Grade Specific Learning Area policies;
- Subject Frameworks, Learning Programmes, Work Schedules & Lesson Plans are in line with the recommendations of the ‘Teacher’s Guide for the Development of Learning Programmes (2003)’ and has been done strictly according to the (R)NCS & OBE principles. The planning documents were provided on a CD so that schools can adapt the planning to their own contexts;
- Integration & progression that has been done according to National policy and the RNCS;
- Assessment forms as a guideline that is in line with the National Assessment Act and (R)NCS.
- Interactive CD’s with the proposed content as a resource to be used in the computer centre. These CD’s are tailor-designed to fit the Learning Outcomes, Assessment Standards and Proposed Content as outlined in the Policy Documents. Interactive, animated and colourful CD’s available for learners dealing with content and policy.
- We have done the ground work for the teachers to relieve them from enormous administrative work so that they can focus all their all their attention on their lesson planning and teaching.
The purpose of the STEPPS programme is to:
- Support teachers in their planning
- Provide a user-friendly resource with the proposed content in video, animated and other formats. Difficult concepts are well explained through colourful diagrams and pictures
- Interactive to ensure that learners can work according to their own pace in the computer centre.