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The 2021 academic year will begin on January 25 for teachers and January 27 for students with a three-year curriculum make-up plan to make up for time lost due to Covid-19.
“As part of the 3-year curriculum recovery plan, beginning in 2021, we will implement the Annual Recovery Instructional Plans (ATP) in all grades, R-12.
“The foundation of the recovery ATPs is the shortened curriculum; but now it includes the learning losses that will be recovered in each grade, based on the learning losses of the previous grade, ”said the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga.
The minister detailed plans for the 2021 academic year during a briefing on Thursday on the state of readiness of schools in the context of Covid-19, as well as issues affecting the basic education sector.
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic led to a loss of learning time due to the closure of schools and eventually they were reopened with various changes to the school environment, including social distancing protocols, rotating attendance, and intermittent closure of schools due to increased localized infections.
To mitigate the impact of lost time, the recovery process will take place over a three-year period, between 2021 and 2023, to gradually make up for learning losses, while building on the core content required for the next grade.
The multi-year recovery plan also ensures that the impact of further learning losses is minimized.
“Recovery ATPs focus mainly on the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of the basic and fundamental content that are required in each grade and subject, to ensure deep learning and mastery of the content as opposed to superficial learning”, said the Minister.
Teacher aide helps with recovery plan
To assist in the recovery plan, the basic education sector will receive 300,000 young people employed in schools.
This is part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidential Employment Stimulus Program to create 200,000 job opportunities for education assistants and 100,000 for general school assistants. This will be achieved through the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI).
The BEEI seeks to address the academic disruption from Covid-19, as well as address some of the persistent systemic challenges. Education assistants will support teachers in the classroom and provide additional support to students.
School assistants general will help schools comply with Covid-19 protocols, while ensuring that teaching and learning take place in a safe and hygienic environment.
The 300,000 job opportunities were aimed at young people to build capacity in schools at least until the end of March 2021.
“More than 65% of the recruits have been captured and the month of December and January will be used for training and induction. They will work in areas that include ICT, reading, mathematics, robotics and coding, ”said the minister.
Read: Changes for South African Schools – What You Need to Know
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