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A total of 23 447 learners in Grades 7, 8, 10 and 12 attended ‘Back on Track’ and matric support classes over the holiday period in the Western Cape.

“Parents will be familiar with our successful winter school classes for matric learners which take place every year,” the Western Cape Education Department said on Tuesday. 

This year, according to the department, 10 842 matric learners attended ‘Back on Track’ classes, which are targeted to the schools that need the extra support the most, while 7 109 joined the district-based classes.  

That means that nearly 18 000 matrics have received extra academic support over the holiday period.

“What the ‘Back on Track’ does differently is to expand support to other key grades, so that learners are already in a better academic position by the time they reach matric.

“This is the first time we have held holiday classes for Grades 7, 8 and 10,” the department added. 

Of these, a total of 1 665 learners are Grade 7s and 2 113 Grade 8s went to camps and classes over the holidays, which focused on mathematics and language, along with psychosocial well-being and life skills sessions. 

“Our Grade 10 learners participated in a unique mathematics intervention, with 1 734 Grade 10s attending extra classes across the districts. 

“This intervention has been designed given the performance of last year’s Grade 9s in our annual systemic tests, which showed that they need extra support in mathematics.”

Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier also visited some of the Grade 10s at the University of the Western Cape, which hosted classes for the Metro South Education District. 

“The learners I engaged with said that they were finding these classes extremely helpful and that the tutors had given them a new perspective on the material covered. 

“What struck me was how optimistic the learners were, and the level of commitment they were showing to the programme. I was also impressed by the commitment of their parents, some of whom travelled with the learners and accompanied them to the classes,” he stressed. 

Meanwhile, the department noted that the teachers also form part of this intensive mathematics intervention. 

“I visited the 140 Grade 10 maths teachers who attended training at the Cape Teaching and Leadership Institute (CTLI) by our maths experts during the holidays. 

“We thank all of the officials, schools, tutors and parents who made this holiday period a successful one for the learners and teachers participating in the ‘Back on Track’ programme.”

He believes that their hard work will go a long way toward improving learning outcomes and giving our children a better future in the Western Cape. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has warned members of the public that it is unlawful to dress in clothing that replicates the uniforms of inmates and department officials. 

This after videos surfaced on social media of private citizens wearing the latter. 

“The Department...has noted with great concern the proliferation of videos on TikTok and other social media sites by private citizens dressed in replica uniform for inmates and officials. Be it for content generation or other means, it has been repeatedly clarified that such conduct is illegal and punishable in law.

“Section 124(a)(b) of the Correctional Services Act, Act 111 of 1998, is explicit on any unauthorised person who wears or uses (a) the departmental dress, distinctive badge or insignia of the Department or of a custody official; or (b)the prescribed sentenced offender dress, or anything deceptively resembling them is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or, in default of payment, to incarceration for a period not exceeding 18 months or to such incarceration without the option of a fine or both.

“DCS is thus again cautioning those involved in such acts to immediately desist from it,” the department said.

In the same vein, the department said it is equally unlawful for inmates to have cellphones.

“The Department is also aware of inmates utilising mobile phones, being active on social media, and there are ongoing efforts to deal with this scourge. Hence, inmates found in possession of cellphones are charged in terms of Section 23 (1) of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government says preparations for the repatriation of the mortal remains of a medical student, who passed away in the Philippines, are at an advanced stage.

Snegugu Ntobeko Myeni from Utrecht, who was a final-year medical student in the Philippines, passed away at the airport on 10 July 2023, as she was about to board a plane back to South Africa.

After hearing about the family’s plight through a video recording where her mother, Lindiwe Myeni, made an emotional plea for assistance, the provincial government intervened and committed to provide support and assistance to repatriate Myeni’s mortal remains.
 
The provincial government said it has been working with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Ambassador of South Africa to the Philippines to expedite repatriation efforts.

“The initial expected date of the arrival of Snegugu’s mortal remains in the country was Saturday, 22 July 2023. However, we are still awaiting a final letter from the attending doctor in the Philippines to finalise the repatriation of Snegugu’s mortal remains. 

“We expect that the medical processes will be concluded soon. We encourage the Myeni family to take comfort in the knowledge that the greater part of the work has already been done by the provincial government to ensure that Snegugu’s remains are brought home to her loved ones in a dignified manner,” the provincial government said in a statement. – SAnews.gov.za