Photo: Pixabay
Photo: Pixabay
The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) met last week to discuss a number of topics affecting the basic education sector. Chaired by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, the group revealed a few eye-opening changes to both the school timetable and the curriculum for the year ahead.
There are three major changes coming to our schools in the near future. We’ll start with the timetable: When the 2022 year starts, there will be a staggered opening of schools across the country. Schools in five provinces will open on 10 January, whereas facilities in the other four won’t go back until 17 January.
There’s a shake-up for the subjects on offer, as well. Physical sciences – or life sciences – is no longer a requirement for students.
That means Sport and Exercise Science will play a more prominent role. The education authorities see this as a more inclusive option for pupils in South Africa, and explained their decisions further:
“The IEB argues that requiring learners to take either physical or life sciences places an unnecessary burden on learners who take sport and sciences as an additional subject. This discourages learners from choosing SPSC.
“It also excludes learners who would like to do the subject, as well as those who would benefit from doing so. The IEB argues that there is no evidence that the combination of SPSC with either life sciences or physical sciences is necessary. CEM agreed and approved the removal of this requirement.”
Angie Motshekga