LOCAL

Minister Angie Motshekga confirmed on Tuesday that the Department of Basic Education has finalised curriculum changes as part of efforts to prepare pupils to meaningfully participate in the economy.

She was speaking at the South African Democratic Teachers Union’s national general council meeting in Kempton Park, Gauteng. According to Motshekga, this includes the introduction of robotics and coding in public schools. As many as 38 new subjects are due to be phased in over the next few years, as part of new ‘three stream’ curriculum.

New subjects in grades 10 to 12 also cover “themes” such as entrepreneurship, digital literacy, climate change and citizenship.

After the prospect of a ‘grade 9 certificate’ propped up in recent years, legislation got underway to give students the opportunity to divert into vocational and occupational streams which focuses more on practical skills in specific fields.

Occupational options such as agricultural studies, beauty and nail technology, office administration, plumbing and hairdressing, are among these. Vocational subjects contain digital technology, electrical technology and hospitality studies.

Analysts have however raised concerns that while the move seeks to increase employability, the current fields may not be what South Africa should be building toward. Jobs portal CareerJunction noted that the current projections indicate that the fields of finance, sales, IT, management and manufacturing are likely to rise in the next five to 10 years.

In light of a record-breaking youth unemployment rate and unstable economy, commentators say the skills acquired have to be sustainable, and contain those that the market is willing to pay for.

National assessments are meanwhile being conducted to determine how students at the early childhood development level can be better prepared for entering the school system. The aim is for the new curriculum to be fully implemented by 2025.

Tauhierah Salie Solomon