| 1. |
THE NEW PROGRESSION AND PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADES 1 - 9 |
| 1.1 |
The need to set minimum requirements for progression in Grades 1 - 8 and for promotion from Grade 9 to 10 was identified by the Council of Education Ministers and has been communicated to schools through Circular 18/2009. However, a subsequent letter, dated 5 August 2009, received from the Department of Basic Education now indicates that the policy on assessment will be gazetted once the recommendations emanating from the review of the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement have been incorporated in the policy. Therefore, the progression and promotion requirements contained in Circular 18/2009 will now be compulsory throughout the country only as from 2010. |
| 1.2 |
Schools must therefore progress and promote learners in 2009, using the criteria for progression and promotion as stipulated in Gazette No. 29626 of 2007. |
| 1.3 |
The Western Cape Education Department regrets that it is necessary to again change previously announced measures and wishes to apologise for the confusion and distress that this causes in school communities. Many will, however, welcome the decision to implement the new progression and promotion requirements as from 2010, as many school principals have raised concerns about the timing of the implementation. |
| 1.4 |
School principals are now advised to address the matter appropriately and to adequately prepare the teachers, learners and parents who will be affected by the new requirements in 2010. |
| 2. |
RECORDING AND REPORTING IN GRADE 9 |
| 2.1 |
The CTA Sections A and B will both be conducted during the fourth term. Section B must be conducted according to the national timetable that accompanies this circular as Annexure A. |
| 2.2 |
For 2009, CTA Section A and school-based assessment (SBA) will constitute 75% of the total promotion mark for Grade 9 in each learning area. The CTA Section A will account for 10% and the school-based assessment will account for 65% of the final SBA mark. |
| 2.3 |
Section B of the CTA will therefore count for 25% of the final promotion mark per learning area. |
| 2.4 |
Revised electronic versions of the Grade 9 mark schedule will soon be made available to all schools on the CEMIS website at http://wcedmis.pgwc.gov.za/wcedmis under the heading Reports and Assessments. |
| 3. |
GENERAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE |
| 3.1 |
The Council of Education Ministers has agreed that basic education must be recognised as being from Grade R to Grade 12. |
| 3.2 |
In the light of the above, the Council has decided that there is no longer a need for the GEC. |
| 3.3 |
The GEC pilot process has therefore been cancelled. |
| 4. |
The Western Cape Education Department apologises for any inconvenience caused by late changes to previously announced measures. We are determined to assist schools to manage education better and we are committed to ongoing engagements with all concerned so as to ensure that introductions affecting the school system are announced before the end of September of the year preceding implementation. |
| 5. |
Please bring the content of this circular to the attention of all teachers, parents and other persons concerned. |
SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2009:08:27
|