Thousands of Grade 12 pupils braved the cold on 30 June to attend winter classes in preparation of the upcoming final examinations.
The winter classes are part of the Gauteng Department of Education’s Secondary School Intervention Programme (SSIP), which provides extra tuition to Grade 12 pupils on Saturdays and during the school holidays.
SSIP caters for priority schools, which are schools that the department has identified as performing under the provincial average matric pass rate.
Classes began on 30 June and will end on 4 July.
“We would like to ask parents to encourage their children to attend these classes. It is crucial for each and every [pupil] attending a priority school to make an effort to use this opportunity to gain more knowledge,” said MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi.
Pupils receive free extra tuition in maths, maths maths literacy, physical science, life sciences, accounting, English first additional language, economics, business studies, history and geography.
The classes are conducted by specially selected tutors who have produced excellent pass rates in particular subjects offered in the programme.
The seven-day winter classes provide focused support on difficult topics likely to appear in the examinations and prepare pupils adequately for the finals.
There are only 135 school days left before Grade 12 pupils write the final matric examination.
“October sounds like it’s far, but your dedication to your studies on a daily basis, listening to your teachers, and attending SSIP on Saturdays and during the holidays will help you,” explained Lesufi.
These classes are offered at 157 schools throughout the province and cater for about 60 000 pupils.
Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) spokesperson Phumla Sekhonyane said in a statement that SSIP is symbolic of the department’s determination to lift the quality of education in schools, and to see improved levels of achievement – particularly in those schools which have struggled to consistently achieve the benchmarks the department has set for the province.
“SSIP has been running since 2009 and its success has seen the programme been awarded the United Nations Public Service Award last week. The award recognised the Gauteng Department of Education and its Secondary School Improvement Programme, as being among the examples of excellence in public service, not just in Africa but internationally,” Sekhonyane said.
“This prestigious award recognises the GDE as the best public service delivery institution in Africa and as one of the best throughout the world,” she added.
Delivering the State of the Province Address on 27 June, Gauteng Premier David Makhura said the award represents the best example of public service excellence and innovation.
“We call on all public service institutions and public servants in our province to emulate the example set by the GDE, teachers, [pupils] and parents who have shown to the world that improved and quality education is achievable in our lifetime,” said Makhura.
Lesufi said the award was in honour of educators who work tirelessly to make this programme a reality every Saturday and everyday over the school holidays, as well as pupils who continue to commit themselves to attending the classes.
“We want excellent results from our pupils. We know it can be achieved and we trust that they will work hard to make us proud,” Lesufi concluded.
