1. On the recommendation of UMALUSI, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training and in line with the other provincial departments, the Western Cape Education Department will change the format of Paper 1 of Geography Higher and Standard Grade for the Senior Certificate examination with effect from October 2005.
2. Paper 1 (Theory paper) will consist of six questions instead of seven and candidates will still be required to answer four of the questions. The time needed for the reading of the question paper will therefore be reduced. Certain sections in Regional Geography (Namibia and the former Homelands) have been removed and the various components will be examined as follows:
SECTIONQUESTIONCOMPONENTS
A1
2
Climate and Ecosystems
Geomorphology and Ecosystems
B3
4
Rural Settlements
Urban Settlements
C5
6
Regional Geography (Environment and Population background)
Regional Geography (Economy of RSA)

3. Candidates will be expected to use a variety of geographical skills and techniques in order to be able to interpret and manipulate information. This will enable them to integrate the various components in Papers 1 and 2.
4. The above amendments apply to all full-time and part-time candidates, irrespective of whether the subject is taken as one of the six compulsory subjects or as an additional subject.
5. Principals must please bring the contents of this minute to the attention of the Head of Department, teachers responsible for Geography at Senior Certificate level and learners studying the subject privately.


SIGNED: P.A. VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2004:11:11