Western Cape Education Department provides Whole School Evaluation support

By Celeste Ganga
13 September 2007

District offices of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), will deploy circuit teams and other specialists to help develop the capacity of schools to provide quality education.

“This is one of the measures that we (WCED) are taking to address the findings of the department’s latest whole school evaluation (WSE) in selected Western Cape schools,” says WCED Spokesperson, Gert Witbooi.

This is part of an ongoing commitment of the Department to provide quality education and to ensure that each and every child has a good qualification and can lead a good life.

“The directorate evaluated 27 schools between February and July 2007 and produced detailed reports for the nine focus areas. The study found that Focus Area four needed the greatest attention,” says Witbooi.

Focus Area four includes educator planning, subject knowledge, teaching strategies, use of resources, classroom management, assessment, homework management, lesson evaluation and development opportunities organised by the school.

“The findings included the need for further training and support on the National Curriculum Statement, subject knowledge and assessment,” says Witbooi.

The WCED will address the issues raised using a number of measures, including support by circuit teams and specialised individuals based in district officers, and ensuring that every school has a school improvement plan.