The education department's winter school programme was held at Khutliso Daniels Secondary School from Monday 8 July and ended today.
The education department's winter school programme was held at Khutliso Daniels Secondary School from Monday 8 July and ended today.
Inviting all schools to attend this bridging course, the Department of Education offered pupils a chance to catch up with the syllabus.
Learners from all the public schools in Grahamstown gathered in a class for a particular subject in the morning, and after a revision lesson they received a prepared meal at lunch time.
Subjects on offer are physical sciences, accounting, business studies, economics, and geography.
After an analysis of results from previous years, the department noted that these are the subjects pupils need help with.
"Khutliso Daniels is a very welcoming environment with neat classes, but I feel that the focus of the winter schools generally cater for physics and maths learners," said Sinalo Dlabongo, a pupil from Graeme College.
Nombulelo pupil Simphiwe Mbanda also said he was unhappy because some of his subjects were not on the programme. Subjects like maths literacy, life sciences, history and English are not catered for, and he would have appreciated extra lessons on those subjects.
"I am excited, I'm going to learn so much," said Anelisa Momoza from Nombulelo Secondary School.
"I've been introduced to new topics already, I have been given more explanations on stuff that I missed in class as well."
Nomazizi Bete, a pupil from Khutliso Daniels who is at winter school for the first time this year, and she wants to improve her knowledge on certain tricky subjects.
Chief curriculum specialist for the Department of Education Bongani Stamper said attendance during and immediately after the National Arts Festival is generally poor, but it grows as things return to normal.
"We estimated hundred and thirty learners and we only had eighty-nine on our first day," says Radio Mcuba, Khutliso Daniels principal and centre manager of the winter schools.
Stamper feels the programme gives pupils a much-needed chance to "catch up" due to the quality of education in many Grahamstown schools.
"We all know that our teachers are not of the same calibre, so we give attention to certain subjects," he explains.
Despite this, the programme could use more support from teachers.
"Some of the best teachers refuse to help during vacation, even with the additional fee that winter schools give," said Stamper.
Pupils confirmed the need for more teachers and subjects and better preparation. "It is a nice preparation but the teachers aren't really enough, since there are subjects without teachers," says Dlabongo.
He added that he didn't know about the winter classes before he heard about them on Mxit, so he didn't know what time to come or which subject to prepare for.
