2.4 Structure of the DEP Programme

This is a 3 1/2 year programme, which starts in August rather than in January as do the other programmes. The first semester is a bridging course, designed to upgrade student achievement in the core subjects, and to prepare them for tertiary study.

There are eight subject areas which are each given equal amounts of time during the last 6 semesters: Sesotho (language & literature), English (language & literature), Maths, Science (chemistry, physics, biology), Education, Applied Sciences (Agriculture, Home Economics., Health Education.) Expressive Arts (Arts & Crafts, Music, Physical Education, Drama), Social and Development Studies (Religious Education, Development Studies). In the first semester students take only the first four, plus Study Skills.

Courses are divided up into Modules, each of 15 hours contact time; a module lasts 5 weeks, with 3 hours contact per week. Each module carries an assignment that counts in the coursework score.

Table 1 shows how the programme is made up. The unequal amount of time in each year reflects the fact that 15 weeks are given up to Teaching Practice: ten weeks in the second semester of Year 2, and five weeks in the second semester of Year 3.

Table 1: Allocation of Modules (Mods) and Contact Hours (Hrs.) by Subject