Chair, the preliminary assessment of the impact of Dinaledi schools has been positive. We have 500 Dinaledi schools, which are principally based in rural and township areas with a learner population of approximately 7%. These schools contribute almost 24% of passes, which is about 50% in matric. This clearly indicates a positive result. Furthermore, there has been an increase in the participation of girl-learners in the learning areas of maths and science, which, again, was one of the objectives of Dinaledi schools.
Given the positive results of Dinaledi schools, the department has embarked on an in-depth study to ascertain the positive aspects which contributed to the success of Dinaledi schools and the extent to which they could be expanded. The answer to the next question is: Yes, the results of the study will be made available to interested parties and stakeholders when the study has been concluded.
The department has decided to keep the number of Dinaledi schools at 500 and to increase the support for these schools. We will increase the number after we have completed the assessment.
The choosing of the Dinaledi schools is done in collaboration with provinces. The national department only sets the criteria and, jointly, with the provinces, we choose the schools.
The Department of Education provides support and oversight over these schools. It monitors them, keeps a database of support for the schools and has provincial co-ordinators in different provinces. These schools are given extra textbooks, study guides, scientific calculators and science kits - and the teachers in those areas are trained in content knowledge which has, ostensibly, impacted positively on the results.
Learners from Dinaledi schools are also made to participate in the Mathematics Olympiad. Approximately 250 of these schools have been adopted by the private sector and parastatals, and this initiative has also impacted positively on and contributed to the success of the Dinaledi schools.