Multigrade Rural Schools Intervention

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Multigrade RuralSchools Intervention
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Ten years ago participants of the World
Conference on Education recognised that

• more than 100 million children had no access to
  primary education
• more than 100 million children failed to complete
  basic education programmes
• millions more satisfied the attendance
  requirements but did not acquire essential
  knowledge and skills during programmes

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Rural Schools in South Africa

• We find the same situation in our own rural
  schools where low numbers force educators to
  teach more than one grade in a single class (ie
  multigrade teaching)

• Research shows that the performance levels in
  literacy and numeracy of children in these
  schools are at least a good two years behind
  their counterparts in developed countries

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Rural Schools in South Africa

• To enable generations to break out of the
  recurring cycle of unskilled labour and resultant
  poverty State education must deliver learners who
  are able to read, write and who are numerate

• However, because South African teachers have
  never been trained for a multigrade system, they
  still teach these classes as if the learners were
  all in a single grade.

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International research identifies six key
variables for successful teaching in rural
multigrade schools

1. Classroom organisation
2. Classroom management and discipline
3. Instructional organisation and curriculum
4. Instruction delivery and grouping
5. Self directed learning
6. Peer tutoring

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A National Priority

• Educational problems in rural schools are a
  national priority - our president has emphasised
  the need for effective, coherent strategies
• Our Intervention rests within broader strategies
  addressing the problems experienced by rural
  communities
• The Western Cape Education Department has
  approved a plan to eliminate these appalling
  conditions - The Multigrade Rural Schools
  Intervention

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The Intervention within the nation province
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The Multigrade Rural Schools Intervention

• Teachers are trained to efficiently manage and
  organise their multigrade classrooms
• Relevant learning programmes and resources are
  developed and made available to schools
• Teachers in these schools are trained to use,
  develop and apply such learning programmes
  optimally with the support of Information and
  Communication Technologies
• EMDC officials are trained to provide ongoing
  support to such teachers

THEN

• The quality of teaching in mullti-grade schools
  will improve
• Learner participants and performance in reading,
  writing and mental mathematics will improve

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Extent of the Intervention
EMDC Schools Teachers Learners
Overberg 132 355 8713
SC Karoo 105 265 8005
WC Winelands 87 250 8494
Total 352 876 25437
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Professional development of teachers

• Strategy
• 1 Theory at residential inservice training
• 2 Demonstration and practical application by
  peers
• 3 Classroom support by key teachers
• 4 Online support by multifunctional teams
• 5 Online communication, support and curriculum
  delivery using ICTs
• 6 Life-long learning and accreditation

R E S E A R C H
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Course Content

• Classroom organisation and management

• Literacy focussing on reading and writing

• Numeracy focussing on mental maths

• ICT skills and online support strategies

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Demonstration

• Viewing and discussing a series of videos to
  visually demonstrate the course content
• Live demonstrations and discussions with peers
• Coaching and practicising of relevant skills and
  knowledge to build teaching expertise
• Planning of lessons and learning resources
• Presenting demonstration lessons to learners
• Reflection

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Key Teachers

• Select and train experienced multigrade teachers
• Key teachers support classroom teachers for one
  week in the classroom to apply the content and
  strategies theyve been taught
• Provide an unthreatening, supportive learning
  environment for teachers

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Multifunctional Teams

• Comprised of circuit manager, SLES, and teacher
  co-ordinator

• Identify problems and successes
• Support classroom teachers
• Supply resources and advice
• Record and report on activities

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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
Head office EMDCs
Wellington
Clusters of rural schools
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Cluster management
Cluster management
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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
Email
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Cluster management
Cluster management
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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
Website
Email
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Cluster management
Cluster management
Online learning community
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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
Website
Email
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Cluster management
Cluster management
Online learning community
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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
Website
Email
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Cluster management
Cluster management
Online learning community
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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
?Fileservers ? ? databases for delivery
monitoring
Website
Email
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Cluster management
Cluster management
Online learning community
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??Learning support
??Technical support
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Ongoing communication and materials delivery 2004
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EMDC
HO
?Fileserver ? database for delivery
monitoring
Website
EMDC
EMDC
Clusters
??Learning support
??Technical support
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Using Information and Communication Technologies

• Customised software for teachers
• Computer literacy training and skills
• Online mentoring and facilitation

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Teacher Training

• Face to face trainingCurriculum Development and
  IT Unit Computer literacy focusing on basic
  computer skills including email, web browsing and
  use of document browser
• Online trainingSchoolNet SA Specialised
  multigrade module focusing on online
  communication, accessing curriculum and resources
  via the web
• CD Rom and print resources

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Multifunctional Team Training

• Face to face trainingProject Team
  Introductory course on cluster management,
  accessing and delivering curriculum and resources
  via the web
• Online mentoring and facilitation
  courseSchoolNet SASpecialised multigrade
  module focusing on online communication and
  community building, peer support,
• CD Rom and print resources

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Life-long Learning and Accreditation

• Accredited training modules NQF
• Certification of teachers by tertiary
  institutions
• Developing further study opportunities and
  courses in multigrade teaching
• Promotion and career opportunities in multigrade
  education
• Recognising the value of multigrade education - a
  teachers story

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INTERVENTION TIMELINES ?DEMONSTRATION ?PILOT
?IMPLEMENTATION 2002 Pre-Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct
Nov Dec 2003 Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4
2002 Pre-Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2003 Term 1
Term 2 Term 3 Term 4
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Steering Committee? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Executive Committee? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Curriculum com ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Assessment com ? ? ?
Evaluators ? ?
MGI Human Resources a c c o u n t a b l e s
t r u c t u r e s
Video committee ? ? ? ? ? ?
ICT committee ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Literacy task team ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Mental Maths task team ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Multifunctional teams/ school training teams ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Planning Implementation ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
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Steering Committee? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Executive Committee? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Curriculum com ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Assessment com ? ? ?
Evaluators ? ?
MGI Human Resources a c c o u n t a b l e s
t r u c t u r e s
Video committee ? ? ? ? ? ?
ICT committee ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Literacy task team ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Mental Maths task team ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Multifunctional teams/ school training teams ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Planning Implementation
P
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WCED Head Office

• Chief Director Regional Services (Rural)
• Chief Director Education Planning
• Director Communication
• Director Curriculum Development
• Director Human resources
• Director Education Research
• Director Specialised Education Support Services
• Director Media Services
• Manager Khanya Project
• Curriculum Planners

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WCED Rural EMDCs

• Director Westcoast/Winelands EMDC
• Director Breede River/Overberg EMDC
• Director South Cape/Karoo EMDC
• Chief Curriculum Advisers
• Curriculum Advisers
• Media Advisers
• Principals and teachers

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• PAWC
• Schools IT Unit
• IT Advisers

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• Edumedia
• Video production unit
• Print unit
• DTP Unit

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• Project Office
• Project manager
• Operations manager
• Administration

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• External Evaluators

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Expansion of the Intervention
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Testing components

• pre and post tests of basic skills
• standardised tests
• external project evaluation

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Aligning the Intervention life cycle with
appropriate evaluation activities
Intervention Life Cycle
Evaluation Activities
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The essential focus of the Multigrade
Intervention