The Western Cape Education Department says a total of 23 447 learners in Grade 7, 8, 10 and 12 attended #BackOnTrack and matric support classes over the past winter holiday period in the Western Cape.

This year, 10 842 matric learners attended #BackOnTrack classes, which are targeted to the schools that need the extra support the most, and a further 7 109 matrics not part of the programme attending district-based classes.

The #BackOnTrack programme expanded to support to other key grades, so that learners are already in a better academic position by the time they reach matric.

This is the first time the Department has held holiday classes for Grades 7, 8 and 10.

A total of 1 665 Grade 7 and 2 113 Grade 8 learners attending #BackOnTrack camps and classes over the holidays, which focused on Mathematics and Language, along with psycho-social well-being and life skills sessions.

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Education MEC David Maynier says the Grade 10 learners participated in a unique Mathematics intervention, with 1 734 Grade 10s attending extra classes across the districts.

“This intervention has been designed given the performance of last year’s Grade 9s in our annual systemic tests, which showed that they need extra support in Mathematics. I visited some of these Grade 10s at the University of the Western Cape, which hosted classes for the Metro South Education District. The learners I engaged with said that they were finding these classes extremely helpful, and that the tutors had given them a new perspective on the material covered.

What struck me was how optimistic the learners were, and the level of commitment they
were showing to the programme. I was also impressed by the commitment of their parents, some of whom traveled with the learners and accompanied them to the classes.

Our teachers form part of this intensive Mathematics intervention, too!

I visited the 140 Grade 10 Maths teachers attended training at the Cape Teaching and Leadership Institute (CTLI) by our Maths experts during the holidays. We thank all of the officials, schools, tutors and parents who made this holiday period a successful one for the learners and teachers participating in the #BackOnTrack programme!

Their hard work will go a long way toward improving learning outcomes and giving our children a better future in the Western Cape!”

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