Question NW3755 to the Minister of Basic Education
28 November 2023 - NW3755
Mkhonto, Ms C N to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1) Whether her department arranges matric camps at schools; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) is the total number of schools that have matric camps and (b) measures have been put in place to ensure safety of learners and educators especially in rural areas; (2) which level of her department approves the matric camps; (3) what systems have been put in place by her department to ensure the monitoring of the camps?
Reply:
(1) All Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) independently arrange matric camps to assist and support learners in various subjects. This is done in the quest to improve learner performance and results (Learning Outcomes),
(a)The number of schools or camps varies from province to province depending on the number of learners targeted for assistance. There were 2346 centres in all, in 2023.
(b) Provinces encourage schools to work with the School Governing Bodies (SGBs) when organising Matric camps. SGBs assist with the monitoring and supporting the centres, and also lend a hand by cooking for learners in the camps. The schools (including SGBs) work with the nearby SAPS to assist with monitoring and to discourage the use of drugs and carrying of illegal weapons. Furthermore, schools work with the nearby clinics to assist learners who are sick. Other stakeholders are brought on board such as NGOs to assist with psychosocial support and motivation of learners.
(2) Matric camps are organised and approved at a Provincial level with the approved budget and needed human and capital resources. PEDs then draw schedules of the matric camps/centres which they then share with the DBE. The DBE Further Education and Training (FET) Directorate, which leads the monitoring of centres, then drafts a monitoring schedule for the Subject Specialists and other officials from the department, e.g., the Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) Directorates. The Director General (DG) also monitors and supports the said centres.
(3) The FET Curriculum, the Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) Directorates, the Senior Managers and the DG, monitor and support the camps. PEDs also monitor the Matric camps. In the current year, the DBE Subject Specialists and the DG monitored 211 Spring centres across the 9 provinces. The monitoring of camps include assessing the quality of teaching taking place at the centre as well as any challenges that might be experienced at the centre related to the availability of resources including the safety and wellbeing of learners and teachers. All the measures outlined above apply to all the centres in the rural as well as the urban areas.