1. This circular must be read in conjunction with Circular 0167/2003, which gives the closing date for Senior Certificate entries as 15 March each year.
2. Every year there are heads of institutions who allow candidates to change grades and even subjects days before they are due to write the Senior Certificate examination. This is not allowed, and is therefore an irregularity in the examination process. There is no regulation which states that such candidates will be allowed to receive the results of the incorrectly written subject after a certain period of time has elapsed, although the WCED has done this in the past. In terms of the regulations candidates may only write the subjects on the grade which they have entered. This implies that it falls within the jurisdiction of the WCED to declare the results in subjects written, but for which the candidate did not enter, null and void. The candidate may then re-enter for the following November examination.
3. Heads of educational institutions are responsible for entering their candidates correctly for the examinations (Circulars  0193/2003 and 0137/2002). To ensure that candidates and their parents fully understand the procedures and implications, heads of all institutions which enter candidates for the Senior Certificate examinations are requested to inform all parents concerned in writing of these rules and the consequences of unauthorised changes as indicated in paragraph 2 above. Circuit managers/MFT members will be asked to collect the attached response sheet (Addendum B) signed by each head and indicating that all parents of Grade 10 and 11 learners have been informed of the above rules in writing, before the end of this year (2003).
4. Many schools keep a record of their learners' subject and grade choices by means of a form that is signed by the standard head, the head of the institution and the parents. This form is re-signed each time a learner changes grades. By signing such a form, parent(s) indicate that they agree with the subjects and grades being taken by their child, and that they are aware that their child is following a course that qualifies for a Senior Certificate with or without matriculation endorsement. This form could be used for the Senior Certificate examination entries, as the information should be correct and signed by the relevant parties. An example of such a form is attached as Addendum A.
5. Heads of institutions are urgently requested to pay attention to this extremely important matter.


SIGNED: P.A. VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2003:11:19

Addendum A: SUBJECT CHOICE GRADES 10 - 12  (size: 9 KB)
Addendum B: SUBJECT AND GRADE CONTROL - GRADES 10 AND 11  (size: 5 KB)