| The first phase of Curriculum 2005 was
implemented in 1998 in the schools in the CMA, starting at Grade 1. Curriculum 2005
represents a shift towards a system of education that emphasises linkages between subjects
including human and social sciences and natural sciences. The aim of Curriculum 2005 is to
teach learners how people interact with their environment and to equip them with the
ability to understand and manage resources effectively (Department of Education, DoE,
1997). There have been substantial
changes in the national education system and therefore all areas were affected by
restructuring, especially the Western Cape due to the retrenchment and redeployment of
2000 teachers. Most of the information pertaining to education relates to the Western Cape
Province and not to the CMA, however, the statistics presented below provide an indication
of the status of education in the metropolitan area.
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| Contents of CONTEXTUAL INFO on Education: |
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| Education quality and
distribution |
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| In 1996 a survey of 32 000 educational institutions around the country,
was conducted by the Department of Education. This survey, the Schools Register of Needs
Survey, investigated the quality of facilities and conditions at individual schools. It
was found that there were 1772 schools (public and private) in the Western Cape Province,
39% in the CMA (DoE, 1996). Compared with the rest of South Africa, education facilities
in the Western Cape Province are of a relatively high standard despite being faced by high
pupil-teacher ratios and overcrowded schools. The Department of Education has divided the CMA into five main areas.
These are Kuilsriver, Bellville, Athlone, Mitchell's Plain and Wynberg. Kuilsriver and
Bellville areas are roughly equivalent to Tygerberg and Oostenberg municipalities, while
Athlone, Mitchell's Plain and Wynberg would cover the remainder of the local authority
areas. |
| Literacy Level |
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| The Western Cape Province has the highest adult literacy rate in South
Africa (95%), with Gauteng being the next highest at 93%. This figure is derived from the
Central Statistical Services (CSS) and based on education levels beyond standard 2 for
persons 15 years and older (CSS, 1996). Approximately 60% of the adult population in the
CMA has achieved an education level above Std. 6 (Provincial Development Council, 1996). Table 1 highlights the
performance of students in the Western Cape Province compared with the national
matriculation exam results for 1997. Compared with the other provinces, the Western Cape
Province had the highest pass rate, as well as the highest proportion of candidates who
passed with university exemption.
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Table 1 |
Comparison
of Western Cape Province matric results for 1997 with national figures |
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AREA |
CANDIDATES |
TOTAL PASSES |
UNIVERSITY EXEMPTIONS |
TOTAL FAILURES |
| Western Cape |
37
197 (6%) |
28
381 (10.8%) |
8
791 (12.7%) |
8
816 (2.9%) |
| National |
555
267 |
261
400 |
69
007 |
293
867 |
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(Source: Schindler, 1998)
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| Educational facilities |
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| The CMA has two universities and two technikons, with a third university
in the nearby town of Stellenbosch. These universities and technikons respectively teach
12% and 9% of all students in South Africa. According to the Western Cape Provincial
Administration Annual Report 1995/96, there are 26 teacher and training colleges in the
Western Cape Province (PAWC, 1996). In
terms of the number of public and private schools per 1000 pupils the CMA is relatively
under-resourced, with an average of less than 0.5 schools per 1000 pupils. According to
Western Cape Education Department 1996 report for Public Ordinary Schools (WCED, 1996),
there are substantial differences between the different areas within the CMA. On average
Kuilsriver and Mitchell's Plain have the largest schools in terms of the number of pupils.
The largest number of schools can be found in Athlone (177) followed by Bellville (131)
(WCED, 1996).
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AREAS WITHIN THE CMA |
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS |
| Kuilsriver |
101 |
| Bellville |
131 |
| Athlone |
177 |
| Mitchell's Plain |
104 |
| Wynberg |
120 |
| Total CMA |
633 |
| Total WCED |
1604 |
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(Source: WCED, 1996)
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| Over-enrolment (overage) |
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| Schools in the CMA display over-enrolment resulting from urbanisation,
enrolment of under age pupils and repetition of standards (Sidiropoulos et al,
1998). Within the CMA the Kuilsriver Area has the greatest percentage of overage students
(22.5%). The highest proportion of overage learners occurs in Grades 11 and 12.
Kuilsriver, Athlone and Mitchell's Plain have the highest percentage overage students for
these Grades. |
| Pupil:teacher ratios |
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| The Kuilsriver Area has the
overall highest pupil:teacher ratio (34:1), with the Bellville (26:1) area having the
lowest mean ratio (WCED, 1996). The overall average pupil:teacher ratio for the CMA was
29:1. All of these are below the national targets, 40:1 for primary school and 35:1 for
secondary school set up in 1996. In 1997, these national targets ratios were abolished by
the National Department of Education. |
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| Figure
1 |
| Pupil:Teacher Ratios
in the Cape Metropolitan Area (Source: WCED, 1996) |
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