SA Education News

Department of Basic Education Spelling Bee South Africa

As part of the Integrated National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy: A Whole School Approach, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and as part of the Getting the Nation to Read Campaign, DBE in partnership with SABC Education, UNISA, AVBOB Foundation, Spell It SA and Camp I am and Soul Buddies hosted the National championships at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg on 10 October 2015. The DBE Spelling Bee South Africa (Spelling Bee) is aimed at improving learners’ performance in languages, especially in English.

The 2015 Spelling Bee season process started with schools responding to the call to register by filling in the attached registration form. All schools, were invited. The growth in the number of schools that enrolled for participation has grown tremendously.

Each province sent three champion spellers to represent it at the National championships mentioned above. Schools that emerged as the 2015 national champions in the Spelling Bee were: Greenfield Primary, Western Cape; Pioneer Primary, Gauteng; and Dikolobe Primary, Limpopo, respectively. However, the strength of the Spelling lies in every learner being given a chance to participate from the classroom level to the highest level possible in the competition, according to his/her capability.

Following this success, a call is hereby made for all schools to encourage learners to participate in the Spelling Bee once more in 2016. 

The procedure for participation in the 2016 Spelling Bee is to fill in the attached form which must be stamped by the school and faxed/sent through to the provincial coordinator of the Spelling Bee. Learners enrolled for home schooling are advised to request the Principal of the nearest school to stamp the form for them.

The contact details of Provincial Coordinators of the Spelling Bee are included in the table below. It will be appreciated if these forms can be submitted to DBE for auditing purposes after the closing date.

The Intermediate phase (Grade 4-6) is still the only category for the competition whose winners will proceed to the National championships. For the first time, a list of the Foundation Phase (Grade 1-3) will also be posted on the website. Schools are requested to encourage junior spellers to take part at this level. The Competition will be held only in English.

Upon receipt of the registration form, the relevant official in the province will organise a workshop to explain the rules of the competition as well as conduct elimination rounds up to the provincial level.

The DBE will receive the names of the provincial winners and host a Spelling Competition in October 2016 at a venue still to be confirmed.

The 2016 Spelling words for use by learners can be accessed on right of this page (Related Links) and also on the Thutong Portal under School Enrichment and Sport section. The participation rules will also be accessible on the same page.

The closing date for the competition will be on or before 31 May 2016.

For further enquiries, kindly contact Mr PJ Ngoepe: Sport and Enrichment on 012 357 3442, email, ngoepe.pj@dbe.gov.za.

All schools, including Special schools, are invited to enter. Participation in the programme is free.

SA Education News

Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Programme

The Kha Ri Gude Literacy Campaign is informed by the Constitution of South Africa, which states that “Everyone has the right to a basic education, including adult basic education (Chapter 2, Clause 29, 1a). According to Statistics SA (2001), there were

9.6 million illiterate adults in South Africa above the age of 15. Of these, 4.7 million, including people living with disabilities, were illiterate and innumerate in one of the 11 official languages.

The Kha Ri Gude Literacy Campaign was intended to reduce the national rate of illiteracy by 50% by 2015. This was in line with the government’s Education for All (EFA) commitment made in Dakar in 2000 as well as its commitment to achieve

the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, HIV and AIDS eradication, environmental protection, and sustainable democratisation and peace building.

The aim of Kha Ri Gude is to empower (skills development) socially disadvantaged people to become self-reliant and to be able to participate more effectively in the economy and society.

Kha Ri Gude reached 3.9 million illiterate adults at a cost of R2.97 billion between the programme’s inception in 2008/09 and 2014/15. The Department expects to reach the remainder of the targeted 4.7 million by 2016/17, after which the programme will be phased out.

SA Education News

EMIS - Education Management Information Systems

EMIS is a function and unit in the DBE with the responsibility to develop and maintain an integrated education information system for management of education.

The integrated infomation system is accomplished through acquisition, processing, dissemination and reporting of quality education data.

National EMIS contacts

Mr. Siza Shongwe - National EMIS Director
Tel: 012 357 3676 Email: shongwe.s@dbe.gov.za

Mr. Bheki Mpanza - National EMIS Officer
Tel: 012 357 3680 Email: mpanza.b@dbe.gov.za

EMIS Information Requests
 

• National EMIS information requests
 
• Provincial EMIS information requests

Information on different sectors of the education system may be requested (preferably by email) from the following members of the Department of Basic Education and the Directorate: Education Management Information System (EMIS):

Director: EMIS
Mr Siza Shongwe
Tel: 012 357 3676 | Fax: 012 323 0380
shongwe.s@dbe.gov.zaEmail:

SA Education News

Health Promotion

Health Promotion aims to create a healthy school environment by promoting the general health and wellbeing of learners and educators, and by addressing key health and social barriers to learning in order to promote effective teaching and learning.

Strategic Objectives

• To increase knowledge and awareness of health promoting behaviours.
• To develop systems for the mainstreaming of care and support for teaching and learning; and
• To increase sexual and reproductive health knowledge, skills and decision making among learners, educators and school support staff;
• To facilitate early identification and treatment of health barriers to learning; and
• To increase knowledge and awareness of health promoting behaviours.

Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention and Management Programme

The Department currently implements an alcohol and drug use prevention and management programme. The programme is integrated into the school curriculum via the Life Orientation/Life Skills subject area. This is supported by co-curricular activities implemented through Peer Education programmes. The programme adopts a public health approach and involves interventions to creating an enabling environment for policy implementation, prevention interventions, early detection and treatment, care and support. The thrust of interventions by the Department are on the prevention of alcohol and drug use. However, partnerships are set up with other government departments and non-governmental organizations to facilitate access to treatment, care and support where required.

Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) Programme

The Care and Support for Teaching Learning (CSTL) Programme is a Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiative that was adopted by Education Ministers in 2008. The goal of the CSTL Programme is to realise the educational rights of all children, including those who are most vulnerable, through schools becoming inclusive centres of learning, care and support. The CSTL Programme intends to prevent and mitigate factors that have a negative impact on the enrolment, retention, performance and progression of vulnerable learners in schools by addressing barriers to learning and teaching. South Africa is one of six countries (others are Swaziland, Zambia, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique) implementing Phase 1 of the Programme between 2008 - 2015. In order to realize its goal, nine priority areas have been identified to address barriers to teaching and learning. These priority areas have been identified based on the policy and legislative mandate that the Department has to fulfil on care and support, as well as the most pressing needs in school communities. The priority areas are as follows: nutritional support health promotion infrastructure water and sanitation safety and protection social welfare services psychosocial support material support curriculum support co-curricular support.

HIV and AIDS Life Skills Education Programme

The HIV and AIDS Life Skills Education Programme finds its policy mandate from the National Policy on HIV and AIDS for Learners and Educators in Schools (1999). The programme was initiated in 2000 and is implemented in all public institutions with a focus on learners in Grades 1-12. The main objectives of the life skills programme are to integrate HIV and AIDS and relevant life skills into the school curriculum as a strategy to prevent and mitigate the spread of HIV infection, and to provide care and support for learners that are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. In this regard, a cross-curricular approach has been adopted. The Life Skills and HIV and AIDS Education is primarily located in the Life Orientation learning area/subject with some aspects of the programme integrated into other learning area/subjects. The HIV and AIDS Life Skills Education Programme focuses on mainly curricular activities as per the following focal areas: Educators are trained to implement Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and TB programmes for learners through the curriculum Procurement and distribution of NCS and CAPS compliant LTSM on HIV and TB Co-curricular activities on SRH and TB Advocacy activities with learners, educators and schools communities on SRH and TB Care and support activities for learners and educators.

Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP)

The Departments of Basic Education and Health are jointly implementing the Integrated School Health Programme that will extend, over time, the coverage of school health services to all learners in primary and secondary schools. The programme offers a comprehensive and integrated package of services including sexual and reproductive health services for older learners. The Health Services Package for the ISHP includes a large component of health education for each of the four school phases (such as how to lead a healthy lifestyle and drug and substance abuse awareness), health screening (such as screening for vision, hearing, oral health and tuberculosis) and onsite services (such as deworming and immunization). During 2013/2014, the programme aims to reach 700 000 learners in grades 1 4, 8 and 10 in quintile 1 and 2 schools. Learners in Grade 4 in quintile 1 schools will receive health education. All learners repeating grades in quintile 1 and 2 schools will also receive health screening.

Peer Education Programme

Peer Education is used as a strategy to role model health promoting behaviour and to shift peer norms on HIV and AIDS and other health and social issues as a support to curriculum implementation.

SA Education News

National School Nutrition Programme

The NSNP aims to enhance the learning capacity of learners through the provision of a healthy meal at schools. Where it is implemented, the programme has shown to improve punctuality, regular school attendance, concentration and the general wellbeing of participating learners.

Whilst learners are being provided with nutritious meals, they are also taught to establish and maintain good eating and lifestyle habits for life. Nutrition Education also provides educators with resource materials to support curriculum and to make every school a healthy school.

Schools are also encouraged to establish food gardens from which they obtain fresh produce (vegetables/fruit) to supplement the menu in line with South African Food Based Dietary Guidelines. Learners, teachers & parents are provided with skills to grow their own food contributing towards long-term household food security. The gardens are also used as a teaching and learning resource and to beautify the environment.
 

NSNP Questions and Answers

What is the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP)?

It is the government programme that provides one nutritious meal to all learners in Primary and Secondary Schools.

Why Feeding at School?

Food provided at school is intended to give learners energy, to make them alert and receptive during lessons.

What are the objectives of the programme?

It is to provide nutritious meals to learners so as to improve their ability to learn. The programme also teaches learners and parents on ways of living a healthy lifestyle, and promoting development of school vegetable gardens.

Who benefits from the programme?

All learners in poorer Primary and Secondary Schools.

What does a school meal consist of?

Protein (Soya, Fish, Eggs, Milk, Sour milk, Beans and Lentils), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable, Carbohydrate/starch. A variety of protein is served per week. Soya should not be served more than twice a week. Fats/oil, salt and flavourants are added to make the meals tasty. Fresh vegetable or Fruit should be served daily.

What are the rules of the programme?

Learners receive food on all school days. Food is served by 10h00. Where a breakfast is served before the school starts, the main meal may be served later. Learners eat in a clean environment.

Who cooks the food?

Food is cooked by unemployed members of the community appointed by the School Governing Body.

How many cooks can the school select?

For every two hundred (200) learners, one Volunteer Food Handler is used (1:200). In schools where the number of learners is very low, The ratio is 1:125.

What should be done with the leftover food?

The leftover food can be given to the needy learners to eat at home.

How can parents and the community support the school nutrition programme?

Volunteer your service to establish and/or maintain a school food garden.Donate Kitchens. Protect the school’s resource Supply cooking, eating and garden equipment. Encourage your children to eat at school. Provide detergents, protective clothing and First Aid Kits. Report fraud-mismanagement of school funds and property. Attend school meetings and ask questions on how funds are used. Print important nutrition messages on pamphlets, posters or products sold.

Where can we Lodge a complaint about the NSNP?

First, make sure that the school management is aware. If no action is taken, report to the district office or call the Department toll free number 0800 20 29 33.

Can the child choose not to receive the food? Is it voluntary?

Food is offered to all learners. They are not forced to eat. Investigation should be made why learners do not eat and take actions to correct the problems that exist.

What must I do if my child is allergic to the food served by the school?

A parent or caregiver can indicate which food stuff the child is allergic to and, wherever possible, the school will attempt to provide to a learner.

Should schools have food gardens?

The schools are encouraged to grow a food garden so that the educators and learners can learn how to grow vegetables and fruit. Vegetables grown/produced from the school garden can add fresh and healthy food to the school meals. School gardens also beautify the school environment.

Why is it important to teach learners to wash hands before eating?

To prevent germs from spreading from hands to food and not to get sick.