Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
25 April 2001
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT:
· The Gauteng Department of Education states clearly, categorically and unequivocally that it is not engaged in any process concerning the "banning", "censoring", or "banishing" of any novel or drama setwork.
· All comments in recent media reports which allege to or purport to the Gauteng Department of Education being involved in any of the unacceptable practices mentioned above are therefore completely incorrect, misguided and not based on an understanding of the true facts.
THE FACTS: -
1. The Gauteng Department of Education is currently engaged in a process of prescribing novel and drama setworks in all 11 official languages for Grade 12 Senior Certificate learners.
2. This is motivated by the principle to change or rotate prescribed setworks which have been studied for at least a period of 5 years.
THE PROCESS OF SELECTION TO DATE
1. Publishers were invited to submit titles of novels and drama, with samples to be read and commented on.
2. The following steps were then taken:
Step 1 - Consultation with teachers (as a reference group)
· Teachers were asked to read and comment on the samples provided.
A criteria drawn up by the Department assisted the teachers. 1388 teachers throughout Gauteng were selected to comment on 154 English texts and 193 texts in other languages.
· Teachers comments were summarised and sent to the publishers to acknowledge that the samples provided had been read. This was done in a spirit of collaboration and partnership which had been struck between the Gauteng Department of Education and the publishers.
· The summaries of teachers' comments do not represent the official viewpoint of the Gauteng Department of Education and must be seen as part of a democratic consultative process.
· These comments were submitted to publishers for educational purposes only and were not submitted to the media by the Gauteng Department of Education.
Step 2 - The development of recommended setworks by selection panels
· The summaries which reflect the perspectives of the teachers were then submitted to 11 selection panels comprising language specialists from within the Department as well as from universities, colleges and recognised private institutions.
· These panels are still engaged in the process of developing recommendations.
· They are determining the criteria for prescribing setworks. They rely on their own knowledge and experience, and will mediate the reviews and perspectives of other critics and the teachers so as to come up with a recommended list of novels and drama setworks to be considered for prescription.
Step 3 - Final decision
The recommendations of the selection panel are then sent to the Head of Department for approval. Thereafter schools are informed of the prescribed setworks. Texts which have not been prescribed will be considered during the next selection process. Any texts which have been prescribed in the past will still be available for teaching and learning purposes. The Gauteng Department of Education encourages learners to read and study a variety of texts for general teaching and learning purposes as well as for oral and written assessment.
FINAL REASSURANCE
The Gauteng Department of Education wishes to reassure the community at large that it is a democratic institution committed to providing a quality education for all learners, in an organised, reliable and practicable way. Learners who attend our schools are assured of education standards which compare favourably both nationally and internationally.