22 Nov 2015

The automatic progression of learners at schools is part of the government’s commitment to provide education for all, Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Moisiraele Goya has said.

Mr Goya said automatic progression aids in ensuring that no citizen was left behind in terms of education.

Citing the ‘Jantien Conference of 1990’ and the ‘Dakar Framework of Action 2000, Mr Goya said “automatic progression is designed to drive the 10 year basic education programme.  

It is aimed at the global commitment to provide access to basic education for all children.  It is also in support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)to achieve universal access to primary education and to ensure that all boys and girls complete primary schooling.”

Mr Goya further reminded Parliament that the Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE) provides for assessed progression of learners as well as accelerated progression.

“Up to 12.5 per cent of a class may repeat standards in any one year.  Whilst repetition is accepted no learner may repeat more than three standards,” he said.

He added that strategies for performance improvement included parental involvement in the learner’s education, provision of resources (books, ICT, materials, qualified personnel), implementation of social values and regular conducting of internal and external inspections.

Furthermore, he said remedial teaching and psycho-social support as well as the engagement of heads of departments on learning difficulties in schools to address issues of special education needs.

The Member of Parliament for Kanye South, Mr Abram Kesupile had wanted to know if the minister was aware that there were some learners who could not read and write, and who have progressed to junior secondary schools as a result of automatic progression.

Mr Kesupile further wanted to know what was intended by automatic progression and what learning materials and teachers were brought into the school system to ensure that secondary education was not watered down. Ends