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Higher Education and Training

Curriculum with an SA flavour, says Nzimande

Thu, 14 May 2009 13:56

The new Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, was at the SABC speaking with Tim Modise on the After 8 Debate. Foremost on the agenda were issues of curriculum transformation, teacher education and training and graduate unemployment.

“Curriculum is a deep, deep challenge – it is one of the most immediate things that we’ve got to tackle. While it relates to the international, global world, it is also a curriculum that is rooted in our own reality in terms of culture and developmental priorities.

“I am worried in terms of our own institutions that we are training students as if they are going to be working in New York. We need to train students to tackle some of the problems that are actually facing us, here in South Africa,” the Minister said.

On the subject of teacher training, Minister Nzimande drew attention to a teacher summit, to be held at the close of July, which will encourage teachers to get their qualifications.

“There’s a big challenge with teacher education. One, we’re looking at teaching rates, in terms of the quality of the teachers we’re getting - the current B-ed qualification is becoming a challenge for the country.”

“We’ve identified that there’s quite a number of unqualified teachers, there’s quite a number of quality issues for the teachers, and therefore one of the issues we want to tackle is the issue of opening up teacher colleges in order to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

“I think we have to deal with the issues of quality learning at school level before we can have access to higher learning.”

In response to a caller comment on the subject of partnerships between high schools and universities, particularly in light of combating high failure rates, the Minister mentioned creating short-term programmes to encourage teachers to understand the impact of HIV/AIDS on a child’s psychological development.

On the subject of graduate unemployment and student debt, the Minister mentioned heightened Seta involvement and retooling, focussing on areas – such as social work – where South Africa is in need – and providing the skills that are required. The National Financial Aid Scheme and the newly developed National Youth Development Agency will also play a role here.

In the new split Department of Education, Dr Nzimande has been appointed Minister of Higher Education and Training, while former Gauteng Education MEC, Angie Motshekga, will head the Ministry of Basic Education.

Ms Motshekga will focus solely on the schooling system, while Dr Nzimande will pay special attention to institutions of higher learning. Dr Nzimande and other ministers held their first meeting in Pretoria on May 12.

A full version of the SAFM podcast can be found at www.sabcnews.co.za - podcasts