CRITICAL ISSUES in SCHOOL MATHEMATICS and SCIENCE: PATHWAYS to PROGRESS 30 September to 2 October 2009 University of Pretoria Edited by Diane J
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© Academy of Science of South Africa, September 2010 ISBN: 978-0-9869835-1-1 Published by: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) PO Box 72135, Lynnwood Ridge, Pretoria, South Africa, 0040 Tel: +27 12 349 6600 • Fax: +27 86 576 9520 E-mail: [email protected] Reproduction is permitted, provided the source and publisher are appropriately acknowledged. The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf ) was inaugurated in May 1996 in the presence of then President Nelson Mandela, the Patron of the launch of the Academy. It was formed in response to the need for an Academy of Science consonant with the dawn of democracy in South Africa: activist in its mission of using science for the benefit of society, with a mandate encompassing all fields of scientific enquiry in a seamless way, and including in its ranks the full diversity of South Africa’s distinguished scientists. The Parliament of South Africa passed the Academy of Science of South Africa Act (Act 67 in 2001) which came into operation on 15 May 2002. This has made ASSAf the official Academy of Science of South Africa, recognised by government and representing South Africa in the international community of science academies. Proceedings of an Academy of Science of South Africa Forum CRITICAL ISSUES IN SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE: PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS 30 September to 2 October 2009 University of Pretoria Edited by Diane J. Grayson ASSAf Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Committee Prof. Jill Adler (Committee Chair) Prof. Jenni Case Dr Edith Dempster Prof. Diane Grayson (Forum Chair) Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala Prof. Gilbert Onwu Dr Fanie Terreblanché Prof. John Volmink Ms Zuki Mpiyakhe (ASSAf Secretariat) 2 CRITICAL ISSUES IN SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE: PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS Acronyms and Abbreviations Acronyms and Abbreviations ABET Adult Basic Education and Training ACE Advanced Certificate in Education AMESA Association for Mathematics Education of South Africa ANC African National Congress ASGISA Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa ASSAf Academy of Science of South Africa AUTC Australian Universities Teaching Committee BA Bachelor of Arts BE(Ed) Bachelor of Arts (Education) BEd Bachelor of Education BEng Bachelor of Engineering BProc Baccalaureus Procurationis BSc Bachelor of Science BSc (Ed) Bachelor of Science (Education) CASS Continuous assessment CESM Classification of Education Subject Matter CHE Council on Higher Education CIE Cambridge International Examinations CPD Continuing Professional Development CPTD Continuing Professional Teacher Development CUP Committee of University Principals D Difficult DBE Department of Basic Education (since April 2009) DHET Department of Higher Education and Training (since April 2009) DoE Department of Education (prior to April 2009) DSE Diploma in Secondary Education DST Department of Science and Technology E Easy ECP Extended Curriculum Programme FDE Further Diploma in Education FET Further Education and Training FETC Further Education and Training Certificate FP Foundation Phase (grades R–3) FYLIA Foundation for Youth Leadership in Agriculture GET General Education and Training ha Hectare HDE Higher Diploma in Education HE Higher Education HEI Higher Education Institution HESA Higher Education South Africa HG Higher Grade Hons Honours HRMIS Human Resources Management Information System HSRC Human Sciences Research Council HSRP Historic Schools Restoration Project ICMI International Commission on Mathematical Instruction ICSU International Council for Science IMF International Monetary Fund IP Intermediate Phase (grades 4–7) IRT Information Response Theory ISLE Investigation-based Science Learning Environment IT Information Technology LiEP Language in Education Policy 3 CRITICAL ISSUES IN SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE: PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS Acronyms and Abbreviations LLM Master of Laws LO Learning Outcome LoLT Language of Learning and Teaching LPG Learning Programme Guidelines M Medium MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology MST Mathematics, Science and Technology NATED National Education (Curriculum) NBT National Benchmark Tests NCHE National Commission on Higher Education NCS National Curriculum Statement NCV National Certificate (Vocational) NGO Non-Governmental Organisation NIKSO National Indigenous Knowledge Systems Office NPDE National Professional Diploma in Education NPFTED National Policy Framework on Teacher Education and Development NQF National Qualifications Framework NSC National Senior Certificate NSMSTE National Strategy for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education NSTF National Science and Technology Forum NRF National Research Foundation OBE Outcomes-based Education OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Palama Public Administration, Leadership and Management Academy PC Postgraduate Certificate PGCE Postgraduate Certificate in Education PhD Doctor of Philosophy PME Psychology of Mathematics Education QUANTUM Qualifications for Teachers Underqualified in Mathematics project SAATA South African Agricultural Teachers Association SAASTA South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement SAASTE South African Association of Science and Technology Educators SACE South African Council for Educators SACI South African Chemical Institute SADC Southern African Development Community SAG Subject Assessment Guidelines SAMF South African Mathematics Foundation SAQA South African Qualifications Authority SCALE-UP Student-centered Activities for Large Enrollment Undergraduate Programmes SET Science, Engineering and Technology SETA Sector Education and Training Authorities SGS Standard Grade SoTL Scholarship of Teaching and Learning SP Senior Phase (grades 8–9) STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STM Science, Technology and Mathematics SYSTEM Students and Youth into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics TIMSS Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study UK United Kingdom UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation US/USA United States of America UWC University of the Western Cape Wits University of the Witwatersrand 4 CRITICAL ISSUES IN SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE: PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword 7 Chapter 1: Introduction 9 Diane Grayson Chapter 2: Setting the scene 11 WELCOME ADDRESS 11 Enver Surty Panel Presentation 1 14 EFFECT OF THE NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE AND OUTCOMES-BASED EDUCATION ON THE CIVIL ENGINEERING INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA Elsabe P. Kearsley Panel Presentation 2 20 Cassius Lubisi Panel Presentation 3 23 SOME CRITICAL ISSUES IN SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA John Volmink DISCUSSION 29 Jill Adler Chapter 3: STEM and the National Senior Certificate 33 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION AND THE NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE IN SOUTH AFRICA 33 Lebs Mphahlele DISCUSSION 42 Jenni Case Chapter 4: STEM and Teacher Education 47 TEACHERS AND TEACHER QUALITY: A CRITICAL ISSUE IN SCHOOL MATHEMATICS 47 AND SCIENCE Diane Parker DISCUSSION 59 Jill Adler Chapter 5: STEM at the interface between school and higher education 65 MIND THE GAP: SOME REFLECTIONS ON STEM AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN 65 SCHOOL AND HIGHER EDUCATION Delia Marshall DISCUSSION 77 Diane Grayson 5 CRITICAL ISSUES IN SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE: PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS Table of Contents Chapter 6: STEM and the language of instruction 83 MATHEMATICS IN MULTILINGUAL CLASSROOMS: FROM UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM TO EXPLORING POSSIBILITIES 83 Mamokgethi Setati DISCUSSION 91 Jenni Case Chapter 7: Evaluation and benchmarking of curriculum 93 EVALUATION AND BENCHMARKING OF CURRICULA: DETERMINING 93 STANDARDS FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND CURRICULA Emmanuel Sibanda and Liz Burroughs DISCUSSION 99 Fanie Terblanché Chapter 8: Subject-specific issues 103 MATHEMATICS 103 Jill Adler and Lynn Bowie PHYSICAL SCIENCES 106 Gilbert Onwu LIFE SCIENCES 111 SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION 111 Lorna Holtman A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LIFE SCIENCES CURRICULUM FROM 2003 TO 2009 113 Edith R. Dempster AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES 117 EP Nel Chapter 9: Comments from the critical observer 127 STEM IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 2009: OBSERVATIONS AND REFLECTIONS 127 OF AN OUTSIDER Shirley Booth Chapter 10: Conclusion and Recommendations 139 Diane Grayson Appendix 1: Biographies of the invited speakers and session chairs 145 Appendix 2: Programme 151 Appendix 3: List of participants 153 6 CRITICAL ISSUES IN SCHOOL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE: PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS Foreword he state of science and mathematics in South African schools has frequently been termed a national crisis. South African learners have fared poorly in comparative tests of science and mathematics at both international and re- gional levels and in local benchmark texts. This is true at both primary and sec- ondary levels. These averaged results mask a very wide disparity between Tlearners: a small minority continue to make significant progress in these subjects, while the majority fail to perform at appropriate levels. As a result, the pool of potential scientists, engineers, health practitioners and future teachers of mathematics and science is severely limited. This, in turn, limits South Africa’s ability to be internationally competitive, as well as its ability to provide the infrastructure needed for the wellbeing of the majority of its people. 2009 was a seminal year for education in South Africa as the first recipients of the new National Senior Certificate (NSC) entered higher education, and in larger numbers than in the past. These students were also the first ones