Question NW1889 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
26 May 2023 - NW1889
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether there are steps that have been taken by her department to encourage pupils who have already left school to participate in the programmes aimed at giving pupils a second chance to enroll to rewrite their matric, in view of the gap that exist between pupils who need the services and those who actually enroll; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Department engages in a number of activities to raise awareness about the projects that impact youth in communities. These projects include Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP), Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme, Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Social Mobilization. The roadshows are sometime organized by the Department and in other cases are implemented in partnership with other government departments.
The awareness events are designed to target different learners and youth. The first approach is to reach out to learners who just wrote the matric exams in October/November of the previous year. After the announcement of matric results, the members of the public are made aware about the opportunities to rewrite, remark or recheck. The information is captured at the back of the statement of matric results.
The attached document is the copy of the Statement of Results that every learners receives. The document provides information regarding the readmission, combination of results as well as registration for learners who would like to rewrite the exams. The information entailed provides the dates and locations where learners may register rewrite.
The second approach is the public awareness campaigns that target the broader community members, especially youth. The campaigns include the Ministerial Roadshows, Career Weeks and events of other Departments:
1. Ministerial Roadshows
The Department hosts and organizes the Roadshows in Provinces in coloration with the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs). In most cases, the roadshows are led by the Minister or Deputy Minister and usually enjoy the support of the MECs of Education as well as municipal authorities. The roadshows have proven to be an effective campaign that receive a broader support from different structures that include unions, tribal authorities, non-governmental organisations.
At the roadshows, the Department invites organisations that include the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Khetha Career Centre, Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and universities to share information about opportunities available for young people.
Officials of the local government structures that include Mayors, counsellors are usually supportive and willing to invite youth in their constituencies to attend. More importantly, media houses at national, provincial and local levels tend to promote and publicize the events.
2. Career Weeks
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) organizes National Career Weeks throughout the country where DBE presents the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) at the events. The events are organized in all provinces and attracts a number of youth.
3. Events of other Government Departments
Occasionally, the DBE is invited by entities to share information about the SCMP. In some cases, events are organized by private organisations.
The third approach involves the sharing of information using different media platforms. The DBE uses Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BasicEd/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/DBE_SA/) to share the information about the Programme. The Department also broadcast through radio and television to inform the public where to access the Programme. Through this website link: https://www.education.gov.za/Programmes/SecondChanceProgramme.aspx the Department reaches many young people who access to the Internet. Furthermore, the Department has a dedicated WhatsApp line (063 696 7246), where members of the public send through their queries concerning the Programme.
The Department has developed promotional material that include the Z-Cards, banners that are shared with many organisations. Z-Cards are foldable guide in a portable format that contain information about the SCMP.
In conclusion, the Department continues to reach out to members of the public about all its programmes, not just the SCMP.