Satellite broadcasting to boost maths results

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy on Thursday, 30 May 2013, launched the programme in Soweto.

The programme is among the interventions aimed at improving the quality of lessons for Grade 8 and 9 learners.

The service will broadcast directly to priority high schools during lesson time so that teachers can integrate the broadcasts into their teaching time. Broadcasts are automatically recorded for revision or afternoon lessons.

The broadcasts have been piloted in 15 schools from February and will now be rolled out to 385 schools that are part of the Senior Secondary School Improvement Programme during the course of the year.

"We are aware of the fact that Gauteng's education system has the task of producing graduates who are able to become the next generation of skilled workers, engineers, and managers the advanced industrial economy of our province requires if it is to continue to grow," Creecy said.

"This means rapidly improving the quality of maths and science teaching available to learners in our most disadvantaged schools.

"Around the world, schooling systems are using technology to assist in dealing with educational inequalities. We see this as an exciting innovation that brings Gauteng in line with this international trend," Creecy said.

Creecy explained that the programme was not meant to replace teachers but it meant to assist them and the learners.

Improving matric pass rate

The programme is an extension of the Secondary School Improvement Programme (SSIP) that has seen the matric pass rate increase by 12 percent in the last four years to 83.9 percent.

According to the department, the immediate target of the satellite broadcast is to rapidly improve learner performance in maths and science in Grades 8 and 9.

Sphesihle Sithole (14), a Grade 9 learner at Ibhongo Secondary School, told SAnews that he finds the satellite broadcast very useful and interesting.

"I'm confident that I am going pass maths with flying colours," he said.

Echoing the same sentiments was Kwanele Mtshali (15), also a Grade 9 learner at the same school, said she now finds maths very interesting because of the new programme.

"The programme has made me have more interest in mathematics."

School Principal David Makganyoga said he has noticed that the learners have developed more interest in mathematics.

"Learners like the programme and it has made them like maths," he said.

The system does not only provide for one way communication. Learners and teachers use landline and mobile phones and social media platforms such as Facebook, Mxit and Twitter to communicate back to the central broadcast studio to ask questions or make comments.

The satellite platform also provides on-the-job training for class teachers who also attend further lessons in the afternoons. Teachers in the schools involved so far have been enthusiastic in their response to the programme as have district officials who are overseeing its implementation.