OBJECTIVE

We strive to give every learner• the opportunity to discover his/ her

potential and • develop fully, by • acquiring skills • in order to reach adulthood, • become a worthy human being and• contribute to the economy of the country.

LEARNERS AT SCHOOLS OF SKILLS

• Cannot progress in mainstream• Very low self esteem• No self-confidence• Emotionally, years behind age group• Curriculum backlog• Limited interest academically• Practically orientated• Cognitively mildly disabled• Behavioural problems due to frustration (No dumping yard)

• Tempo of mainstream too fast• Routine essential

LEARNERS AT SCHOOLS OF SKILLS(cont.)

• Function at a low level (reading + writing)

NON READERS AND WRITERS (2010)

Bridging – 36%

Grade 7 - ?% (2011)

Grade 8 – 37%

Grade 9 – 37%

WHY VOCATIONAL?

• Support and repetition of academic outcomes.

• Experience more success than in the academic subjects.

• Placement in private sector.• Support and development of learner

interests.• Learn hand-eye co-ordination.• Develop skills.

CHALLENGES

• Alcohol syndrome learners• Drug Abuse• ± 80% ADHD and ADD• Hard of hearing• Physically disabled• Epilepsy etc.• Broken homes• Emotionally neglected• Low socio-economic level (generally)

IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIRST REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE LEARNERS BEFORE WE CAN PREPARE THEM

ADMISSION CRITERIA 2010

INITIALLY• Born 1995• Failed twice• Failed once with evidence of no progress• Psychological report

OLDER LEARNERS FROM MAINSTREAM • Placement in appropriate level (Academic)• Start with phase 1 (Vocational)

COURSE

• 4 YEAR COURSE• 1ST YEAR BRIDGING – NARROWING THE GAP

IN LITERACY AND NUMERACY

• 2nd – 4th year

50% Academic and 50% Vocational

TEACHING 2010

CURRICULUM• BRIDGING• LEARNING AREAS

ONLYMATHS; AFR; ENG; LO; ART

+• INTRODUCTION TO DIFFERENT

VOCATIONAL PROGRAMMESBonus

VOCATIONAL

• BRIDGING:• EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT

VOCATIONAL FIELDS

• ± 5 WEEKS EACH

• NOVEMBER PLACEMENT INTO SPECIFIC WORKSHOPS FOR 2011

BASELINE TESTSBRIDGING

ACADEMIC

• STANDARDISED TESTS

• PLACEMENT

• TEACHING

• SEPTEMBER RE –TEST BASELINE

• FINAL PLACEMENT for 2011

RESULTS185 learners

• COMPUTER PROGRAMME RESULTS:

• A - ± 45 LEARNERS BELOW GR 2 LEVEL• LIMITED READING AND WRITING• B - ± 90 LEARNERS BETWEEN GR 2 – 3• C - ± 25 LEARNERS BETWEEN GR 4 – 5 (LANGUAGES) • C - ± 25 LEARNERS BETWEEN GR 4 -5 (MATHEMATICS)

AFTER BRIDGING(CURRENTLY)

ACADEMIC

• Afrikaans• English• Mathematics• Life Orientation• Natural Science• Social Science• Economic and

Management Sciences• Arts and Culture

VOCATIONAL

• 2nd – 4th year • ONE Vocational skill

WCED PROPOSAL(NCS compulsory)

ACADEMIC• Core Knowledge:

Home Lang + 1st Add. Lang

LO + EMS + SSMathematics Field 1

Field 2 Field 3• Applied Knowledge: NS + Technology• Sports and Culture: AC + PE

TECHNICAL

• Bridging:

4 Technical Fields• 2nd – 4th year:

2 Technical Fields

WESTCLIFF PROPOSAL(NCS COMPULSORY)

ACADEMIC

• LANGUAGE LITERACY(English, Afrikaans)(30%)

• MATHEMATICS Field 1

(30%) Field 2

Field 3• LIFE ORIENTATION (30%)

( Life Skills, PE, A&C)

• INTEGRATED STUDIES(SW, NW, EMS) (10%)

VOCATIONAL • Replaces Technology• 1st Year 4 Fields• 2nd – 4 year 2 Fields

WESTCLIFF PROPOSAL(NCS NOT COMPULSORY)

ACADEMIC

CORE KNOWLEDGE• LANGUAGE LITERACY

(English, Afrikaans)(40%)

• MATHEMATICS Field 1 (20%) Field 2 Field 3• LIFE ORIENTATION (30%)

( Life Skills, PE, EMS)

APPLIED KNOWLEDGE• NATURAL SCIENCE (10%)

VOCATIONAL

• 1st Year:-Introduction to different vocational skills

• 2-3rd Year:- 1 major and 1 minor vocational skill

• 4th Year 1 major skill

POLICY ADAPTION??• Adapt NCS to cater for technically orientated learners• Need for artisans in South Africa• Only an academic curriculum available.• Current curriculum has failed our learners. • FET

• Become artisan with RPL

ARTISANSUNIVERSITY

ASSISTANT ARTISANS

SCHOOL OF SKILLS

POLICY ADAPTION (cont.)

• We must not contribute to the unemployment and crime statistics.

• Drop out rate of schools of skills will be reduced if the frustration of too many learning areas is reduced.

• Nationally endorsed certificate.• NCS developed without vocational section –

learners can only cope if there are less subjects due to 50% of time allocation and intellectual barrier to learning.

METHODOLOGY

• 2 Streams Technical and Academic• 1 Day Academic and 1 day Technical • Teaching methods adapted to suit learners.• Adapted curriculum• Technical Curriculum in phases• Co-Curricular assessment• Repetition• Short periods

ASSESSMENT• Different assessment techniques

Written tasks: Adapted tasks for non readers and writers – e.g. multiple-choice.

Support from educators essential with reading and writing. Ideally assessment should be done one-on-one!Ideally assessment should be done one-on-one! (They understand the concepts but cannot communicate it.)

• Continuous assessment (Academic,Vocational,Co-Curricular)

• Homework

VOCATIONALPractical assessmentDemonstrationOral assessment

AFTER 4 YEAR COURSE(CURRENTLY)

• ACADEMICSpecial Education School certificate

Or Certificate for grades completed

+

• VOCATIONALSchools’ Skills Certificate

SUCCESSES

• Successful placement in private sector• Happier learner• Well adjusted learner in private sector• Progress according to benchmarks• Develop a positive self esteem• Experience success and acceptance• Increased productivity - less pressure on

the economy

WHY SCHOOL OF SKILLS?

• Last opportunity for learners.• Learners develop skills which they otherwise would not

have had. • Develop a self esteem and self-confidence which

otherwise would have remained undeveloped.• Skills development is necessary for our learners.• Develop reading and numeracy skills.• Increases the opportunities for employment.• Much happier and complete young adult.• Ready to contribute to the economy of the country.• Able to be self-sustainable.