Task Team Report released: DA to request special parliamentary hearings
Subsequent to much pressure from the Democratic Alliance, the Department of Basic Education has made public the report compiled by the Ministerial Team tasked with investigating the implementation of the Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) strategy.
The report is damning. It exposes gaping holes at every level of the system particularly with regards to teachers:
- The national strategy is out of date.
- There is a shortage of qualified teachers.
- The curriculum changes over the past decade have negatively affected teaching.
- Universities are not training teachers adequately.
District offices are largely not capable of providing adequate support to teachers.
Whilst there is a shortage of competent maths teachers, the report makes a critical statement: "There is a national pool of dedicated and competent MST teachers. They must be recognised and nurtured. Their knowledge and experience must be used to best advantage."