PROBLEM SOLVING
SA looks to Asia for new school curriculum
The curriculums in the Asian countries emphasise problem-solving skills, communication and creative thinking
The Department of Basic Education has proposed modelling the South African curriculum on that of Asian countries such as Singapore, Japan and Taiwan. The decision by the department to condone grade 7-9 pupils who had passed all subjects but had only obtained 20% or more in mathematics was introduced as a temporary measure for 2016. "The concern was that learners who could go to the next grade based on meeting all other pass criteria were being held back in the grade unnecessarily," department spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said. The curriculums in the Asian countries emphasise problem-solving skills, communication and creative thinking. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (Timss) 2015 research showed that since 1995, pupils in eastern societies had progressively improved in the areas of content and cognitive maths skills for grades 4 and 8. "Give them [Asian pupils] an international problem and they are likely to be able to solve it," said Mark Chetty, acting directo...
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