Secondary School Improvement Programme (SSIP): A case of Gauteng Department of Education
Presenter: Boy Ngobeni Superintendent-General: Gauteng Department of Education
Republic of South Africa Public Service
Scope of Presentation
Background
Problem Statement
Programme design
SSIP Model, Targets and Pillars
Approach and Strategy
Programme Implementation
Stakeholders Involved
Programme Outputs
What SSIP Needs from Educators
Conclusion
2
About 2,2 million children in 2 300 schools
1.4% of South Africa’s
land mass
Over 33% of South
Africa’s economy.
(10% of Africa’s GDP)
The province of
GAUTENG has…
About 13 million
people (24% of South
Africa’s population)
Gauteng in Brief
Gauteng
in Brief
Most populous
province in the
country (24%
share)
Highest population
growth rate (31%
between 2001 &
2011 - national
average of 16%)
Highest increase in
learner enrolment
(44.8% between
1995 & 2013)
Highest labour
participation rateHighest proportion
of adults with
degrees (17.7%)
2nd lowest
proportion of
adults with no
education (3.7%)
Highest labour
participation rate
Historical Background of Education System in South Africa
• Apartheid’s racial education system perpetuated inequality, oppression and discrimination.
• The democratic government inherited a dismal situation regarding education in 1994. The following figures indicate the problem:
– In 1993, there was a poor culture of learning and teaching.
– In 1994, 40% of the adult population could not read or write.
– In 1994, only about 40% of Black students passed matric.
– In 1996, only 20% of adult Africans had a matric.
• Delivery priorities of new government has been dominated by very clear policy goals that includes the following:
– Increasing access to education.
– Establishing an equitable education system.
– Redressing the imbalances of the past.
– Establishing a new basis for quality.
– Promoting system efficiencies.
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
5
Resourcing public ordinary schools
Resourcing
Norms &
Standards
No-fee
schools
NSNP
Scholar
transport
Infrastructure
LTSM
Problem Statement
Provincial and National Grade 12 pass rates
The graph depicts the trends on Grade 12 pass rate since 1994.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Gauteng National
• Declining performance in Matric Results from
2003.
• Learners in poorest community were failing to
meet the standard of the Senior Certificate.
• Increase number of underperforming schools.
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
7
Programme Design
Design
• Historically, learners in underperforming schools were supported.
• The support was district driven resulting in varying intensities, standards and impacts.
• It was re-designed to be centrally driven by a dedicated team with the support of District Support Teams.
Redesign
• Provide supplementary tuition programme in key subjects and enhance learner and teacher support materials.
• Target teacher development on areas learners were performing poorly on school leaving certificate.
• Improve performance of schools that were failing to meet provincial target annually.
Redesign• The following are Supplementary Programmes to ensure successful rollout
Redesign
• Learners are transported to selected schools which serve as central programme sites.
• Learners are provided with meals.
Redesign
• Motivational talks by qualified speakers and past learners who are now tertiary level students.
• Study skills training, study groups and self-study resources.
• ICT literacy training.
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
8
SSIP is a highly successful extra-mural
supplementary tuition programme for
learners in under-performing high
schools in the province of Gauteng in
the Republic of South Africa.
The programme runs on
weekends and during school vacations
in 155 locations …..
…mainly for 60 000 Grade 12 learners from 431
high schools serving economically
disadvantaged communities.
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13
% P
ass R
ate
Year
The programme started in 2010. It in its 5th year. It has improved
achievement levels by 25% so far
SECONDARY SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME
SSIP
Lifespan
SCHOOLS:
Curriculum delivery according to
pace setters & work schedules
SSIP
Consolidation of key concepts &
focus on exams
Training & support for teachers Tuition & support for learners
The SSIP Model
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
11
S.S.I.P. Targets
An improvement in the overall provincial Grade 12 pass rate to 90% or above;
A Gr. 12 pass rate in underperforming schools of 85% or higher;
A provincial Gr.12 Maths & Science pass rate of above 70%;
60% of Maths & Science passes to be above 40%;
An average level of learner attendance rate at SSIP of 80% or more; and
An effective & well attended teacher training programme.SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
12
S.S.I.P. Pillars
Pillar 1: Grade 12 intervention programme.
Pillar 2: Grade 10 and 11 Intervention Programme.
Pillar 3: Teacher training programme.
Pillar 4: Grade 8 and 9 Mathematics Broadcast Programme.
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
13
Saturday tuition sessions during term.Daily tuition during school vacations.Exam Preparation Camps before end-of-year exams.
Pillar 1: Grade 12 Intervention Programme
Pillar 2: Grade 10 & 11 Intervention Programme
Daily tuition during school vacations.
Pillar 3: Teacher Training Programme
Standardised lesson plans and teaching resources.Saturday training sessions during term.Training courses during school vacations.
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa 14
Pillar 4: Grade 8 and 9 Mathematics Broadcast Programme
Live & recorded broadcasts into classrooms during the week.
Live afternoon training teacher training broadcasts.
Weekly online assessment.
Production & distribution of audio-visual mathematics resources from departmental recording studio.
Programme has branched off from SSIP into a full independent project as part of the Department’s ITC in Education strategy.
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
15
Leadership and Management
Weekly report to Provincial Minister & Head of Department.
Provincial Oversight Committee of executive managers from Curriculum, Quality Assurance, Communications, HRDMonthly Management meetings.
District Implementation Team in each district to manage district implementation in 6 to 20 sites per district. Weekly Management meetings.
Site Manager in each of 157 sites.Weekly Management meetings.
Permanent SSIP Programme Office.
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
16
Logistics & Support
TRANSPORT: Private bus companies paid standard rate/km.
FEEDING: Local service providers, managed by schools
MATERIALS: Developed by subject experts, approved by departmental subject managers
PRINTING: Beneficial discounted standard prices negotiated with a broad pool of approved service providers
Rigorous standards, monitoring and accounting of all services
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
17
18
GRADE 12 STRATEGY
Exam focus: Mock exam questions
Selected topics: High yield & high risk
Study & exam skills: Optimal exam management
GRADES 10 & 11 STRATEGY
Selected topics: Content backlogs & gaps
Homework focus: Weekly tasks & problems
Study & career education: preparation for Gr. 12
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
Programme Implementation
• All under-performing schools participated.
• 385 High schools with 50 000 Grade 12 learners participated in
2013 in 140 sites throughout the province.
• Runs each weekend during the school term and during all school
vacations.
Implementation
• An intensive programme before the final end-of-year exams.
• All teaching and learning material is centrally developed by
experts, quality assured and approved.
• All programme sites deliver the same lessons on the same dates.
Implementation
• Uses approved lesson plans for each lesson.
• Provides worksheets and homework materials for each lesson for
all learners.
• Synchronised with the Work Schedules in schools.
• Tuition is provided teachers with a track record of excellence and
achievement.
Implementation
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
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Stakeholders Involved
Stakeholders
involved
SGBs and SGB Associations
and Faith Based community
structures
Political Parties, Ward
counsellors and
Community
representative
organisations
Learner Representative
Councils
Teacher Unions
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa20
Performance of SSIP Schools: 2009 and 2013
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
400335
132431
911084
400366
400396
400274
121715
231746
241315
220749
400325
131979
340406
400350
400355
331405
400330
140426
240960
359001
400395
110023
320556
340711
400271
310979
914251
161802
270025
152181
221192
311092
241779
400122
241232
240895
271528
230078
310870
350934
270934
311142
340323
911589
311431
260646
310029
110072
251892
311258
400263
400182
331660
120568
261305
910553
230318
400216
133249
121665
400186
321430
0.00
10.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
70.00
80.00
90.00
100.00
152694
400102
261420
400139
350686
321521
321307
330019
133074
221192
320515
321372
910253
359001
140137
111450
261362
341511
321638
400098
340752
121798
270595
400075
310862
320432
121491
331413
911709
139001
912064
132902
240507
140087
311589
920186
350843
350959
132043
111252
911556
251736
251991
312075
331876
141143
321430
341123
400055
350793
110320
251835
252262
232215
321554
911026
121665
913607
330043
2009 2013
SECONDARY SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME
SSIP schools above 80%: 2009 vs 2013
Programme outputs
Systemic improvement in curriculum delivery throughout the schools system in
disadvantaged communities.
The gap between the under-performing schools and the schools in affluent areas has
narrowed.
The provincial Grade 12 pass rate has improved each year for the 4 years that the
programme has run.
The pass rate in critical subjects increased significantly in under-performing schools.
The numbers of bachelor pass in SSIP schools have increased from 19% in 2010 to
25% in 2013.
Mathematics pass rate has improved from 40% in 2011 to 61% in 2013 whereas
the Physical science pass rate has improved from 41% in 2011 to 65% in 2013.
There is a decline in number of underperforming schools from 188 in 2009 to 19 in 2013.
Thousands of learners from poverty afflicted communities are able to enter higher
education and training and access to bursary funding and scholarships.
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
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SECONDARY SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME:
Mathematics and Physical Science Performance
23
MATHEMATICS PHYSICAL SCIENCE
2011 2012 2013 2011 2012 2013
Gr 12 Candidates 13 137 14 700 16 377 13 815 14 954 15 250
Candidates passed 5 210 7 222 9 990 5 610 8 936 9 962
% Pass Rate 40 49 61 41 60 65
Distinctions 160 341 521 168 312 376
Improvement from 2009 to 2013
24
YEAR UNDER PERFORMING SCHOOLS
2009 188
2010 117
2011 91
2012 47
2013 19
25
• Positive & appropriate engagement with SSIP
• Adherence to pace setters and work schedules
• Participation in training sessions
• Advocacy for learners to attend SSIP
• Communication of issues & suggestions
• Feedback on SSIP usefulness or weaknesses
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa
Conclusion
• SSIP has successfully improved the quality of
education in priority schools in relation to:
o Throughputs rate;
o Overall pass rate of Grade 12 learners;
o Quality of passing grades; and
o Transition to post school level or area of work.
• The programme has also become embedded as
part of the school routine.
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa26
THANK YOU!
AMSAHAMNIDA!
SSIP Model: A case of Gauteng Department of Education, South Africa27