At the request of the Northern Cape Head of Department, Dr MI Ishmail, the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) facilitated a high-impact, two-day workshop for 37 Circuit Managers and District Curriculum Specialists in Upington. The initiative forms part of the province’s drive to strengthen curriculum leadership and improve system functionality at circuit level.
In his closing remarks, the MEC for Education expressed gratitude to the NECT for its critical role in providing targeted system improvement support.
The workshop, designed and delivered by the NECT in collaboration with Mr Henrico Willemse, Chief Director for District Coordination, aimed to deepen understanding and establish a shared professional language to strengthen operational planning and programme implementation across the province.
Day 1 focused on unpacking the Circuit Manager’s job description, with particular emphasis on the curriculum management function. Participants analysed key performance areas and their weightings across human resources, administration, school management and governance, and curriculum leadership—while also reflecting on the complexity of the role.
Day 2 introduced the emerging Programme Implementation Model, adapted from Implementation Science frameworks in the health sector. This provided a strong theoretical foundation for developing Circuit Implementation/Improvement Plans (CIPs) and enhancing existing curriculum monitoring and support tools.
Through this workshop, Circuit Managers are now better equipped with both the conceptual grounding and practical tools to support curriculum delivery and drive sustained school improvement.