COL Quality Assurance Toolkit Project

As reported earlier the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) requested SAIDE to facilitate a week-long workshop on quality assurance for open schools in September last year. This workshop was attended by 23 delegates from 16 different Commonwealth countries across the globe. Recently, COL asked SAIDE to support the quality project further by developing a quality assurance toolkit. The kit aims to provide guidelines to people working in open schools in setting up and maintaining robust quality management systems to enhance quality open and distance learning (ODL) provisioning. Ephraim Mhlanga reports.

Contemplating Curriculum

Tony Mays reflects on the recent International Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies (IAACS) conference.

An Investigation Into the Usage and Efficacy of the PLATO Learning System In Selected FET Colleges

The FET college sector continues to be a challenge for the South Africa’s education system. In many ways it is still seen by some as the unloved step-child of the system, where learners who do not fit anywhere else go. However, in the last few years several attempts have been made to turn this sector around and ensure it provides South Africa with the necessary skilled personnel for a developing economy. In 2007, over 25 000 students enrolled for the new National Certificate Vocational (NCV) programme in FET Colleges throughout the country. The pass rate for that year was a very disappointing 20 percent. Reports have suggested that many students are lacking in literacy and mathematical skills. The Department of Education has set itself a target of getting one million learners registered in FET Colleges by 2014. If these learners are to succeed they clearly need more assistance. A number of FET colleges have attempted to meet these challenges by acquiring PLATO educational software to assist the students to acquire the necessary skills to succeed in their courses. Paul Mphisa reports on an evaluation conducted by SAIDE.

Creating a Caring School: A Guide for School Management Teams
With Accompanying Toolkit

Given the impact of HIV and AIDS on South Africa in general and our education system in particular, SAIDE embarked on a research project to collect evidence of good school-based strategies for supporting vulnerable learners. Dotted all over the country we found pockets of excellence - schools that can and do make a difference.

We have used the findings of our research to develop this guide and the companion toolkit. We hope that the many valuable lessons distilled will serve as a practical guide to help school principals and their management teams (SMTs) to manage the health and social needs of vulnerable children. Maryla Bialobrzeska provides details.

“Better the Devil You Know Than the Angel You Don’t Know”

SAIDE welcomes back Lesetja Frans Pitjeng who provides a brief overview of his time abroad.