About the Secondary School Improvement Programme

Overview

The Secondary School Development Programme (SSIP)

1. Introduction

The Gauteng Department of Education has devised a comprehensive initiative to support the 391 schools in our province that achieved a less than 80% pass rate in the National Senior Certificate examination. The aim is to improve the quality of teaching and learning, and thus achieve a higher matric pass rate.

The SSIP is a multipronged programme that targets classroom work and provides learner support through tuition on Saturdays, as well as assistance and guidance to School Management Teams (SMT) as they oversee curriculum delivery. School Governing Bodies and parents are also asked to play a meaningful role in the SSIP.

2. Educators in SSIP schools

In this integrated programme, educators have a particular responsibility to ensure that they deliver quality education to learners every day. Therefore SSIP Teacher Development targets educators in Grades 10,11 and 12 in the following gateway subjects; Maths, Maths Literacy, Physical Science, Life Sciences, Accounting, Geography, History, Business Studies, Economics, and English First Additional Language.

The Teacher Development Programme will run from 28 March until 22 October 2011. Educators will attend not more than seven days of professional development for the year within this programme. The training dates have been adopted by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).

The programme uses a differentiated learning approach where educators who obtained a pass rate of 80% and above in the subjects they teach will receive resource packs. Educators who obtained a pass rate below 79% in their subjects will also receive Resource Packs as well as training on Saturdays and during school holidays. Curriculum specialists will be available to ffer school-based support to educators who require it.

In addition to Resource Packs, the programme will release podcasts and audio files in the various subjects. These audio files can be downloaded from the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG) website. Educators will be alerted via SMS as soon as these become available.

SMTs will be given booklets on how to support the SSIP. Two seminars will be conducted for Heads of Departments (HODs) who are required to manage the SSIP process and ensure synchronisation. This will re-inforce their normal duties.

3. Conclusion

The Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance has established a Call Centre from 7:30 - 12:30 on all training dates to assist those who require further assistance. The number to dial is 011 830 2200.

The District Teacher Development Co-ordinator will also be able to provide assistance.

Click on this link to download the 2011 Teacher Development Brochure