Question NW2192 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education

Reply:

Eastern Cape: 

• Radio lesson schedules were developed and broadcasts included: 2 National Radio Stations;  14 Community Radio Stations; and 1 On-Line Radio Station
• Broadcast for e-School underway.  Access via the following link: rtmp://197.242.147.204/live/2e1 
• Grade 12 Tips for Success, Mind the Gap study guides and past exam papers all uploaded and available on ECDoE website.
• Access viawww.ecdoe.gov.za.  Click on Learners’ Support Menu or www.eccurriculum.co.za

Gauteng: 

• Provided autumn camp support material to all learners.
• Created an e-platform containing learning materials.
• Radio broadcast: using community radio stations.
• Created WhatsApp groups for learners/ teachers and subject advisors
• Weekly reports were provided to the provincial Command Centre on the readiness of the Special Schools to receive learners.
• The GDE COVID-19 steering committee had a representative from the disability sector. This enabled direct reporting and requesting progress on support required.
• National guideline documents were contextualised for Special Schools to facilitate effective and efficient implementation. 
• Special Schools were supported with the restructuring of timetables and transport routes.
• Youth Brigade members were deployed in Special Schools to assist with the activities regarding the containment of the COVID-19.
• Virtual or on-site school visits, monitoring and supporting school readiness were conducted from provincial level. 
• The Inclusion and Special Schools Directorate updated and added links to support Special Schools offering the Differentiated CAPS for learners with Severe Intellectual Disabilities, the Technical Occupational Curriculum and the Learning Programme for Learners with Profound Intellectual Disabilities.  This included curriculum content and lesson plans: 
• Technical Occupational Stream: https://education.gauteng.gov.za/Pages/Technical-Occupational-Curriculum-for-Special-Schools.aspx  
• NCS CAPS for SID: https://education.gauteng.gov.za/Pages/DCAPS-Gr-R-5-Severe-Intellectual-Disabilities.aspx
• Learning Programme for PID: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QQgJUt1ZcqMqViyKmwdWa-dbjA2zLBau?usp=sharing

KwaZulu-Natal: 

• Distributed lesson plans, in video format, to all schools for the Deaf. The province has also secured slot for broadcasting lessons in the local radio stations, including Ukhozi FM. 
• Created the eFunda Portal with online resources;
• Print media utilised to support learning home;
• Radio broadcast programme/Comprehensive Schedule.

North West: 

• Parents were kept up to date on school contamination and provision of personal protective equipment upon return of learners.
• An audit of learners who would be or not returning to school was undertaken.
• Parents were encouraged to take learners to hospitals and clinics for their appointments.
• Parents were advised to contact schools for guidance and support on how to access therapeutic services.
• The Department collaborated with the Department of Health regarding the rendering of therapeutic services for learners while they were at home.
• A Facebook page was created to support learners by transversal itinerant outreach teams. 
• Google Classroom was used to support learners with co-morbidity. 
• Arrangements were made for parents to collect learning materials, assistive devices and instructions from schools. 
• Western Cape: 
• Made available revision programme for 12 subjects available in English and Afrikaans.
• Created a one-pager guideline for all subjects indicating what should be done, distributed to parents and teachers and learners.
• Telematics Broad Cast lessons: Register all grade 10- 12 learners in the country; Access through live streaming; Have all past recorded lessons (Grade 10-12)
• All subject advisers – created WhatsApp groups with teachers.
• WCED portal was loaded with comprehensive set of resources for each subject.
• Autism Western Cape have also made resources available for parents and caregivers and these were obtainable at https://www.autismwesterncape.org.za/services-resources/ . These were videos that explained the contents of the booster box/packs that they had developed. There was also a booklet for reference by parents and caregivers. Working with Autism South Africa, Autism Western Cape were able to send the available booster boxes to parents.
• Set up a Facebook page for “Real South African Sign Language”, and at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePDwWPAwFXo&t=6s, containing free lessons for the lockdown period.
• Resources for children with autism spectrum disorder were made available to parents at  https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/supporting-individuals-autism-through-uncertain-times.Teachers .
• With reference to the Schools of Skills, in which the Technical Occupational Stream is being piloted, a shared folder on Google Drive was shared with all principals of these schools.
• Sent video clips with activities via WhatsApp to parents and guardians. In addition, the PED created a WhatsApp resource bank, to which each of the members of the transversal outreach itinerant teams is linked. All available resources for this category of learners were shared with members in this group.