1. Introduction
1.1 Government Gazette No. 34600 serves to communicate the approval of the National Curriculum Statement as national education policy.
1.2 The National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12 comprises the following documents:
1.2.1 The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) for all approved subjects for Grades R – 12.
1.2.2 The National Policy Pertaining to the Programme and Promotion Requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12.
1.2.3 The National Protocol for Assessment Grades R – 12.
1.3 The above-mentioned documents can be downloaded from the Department of Basic Education’s website at http://www.education.gov.za. Click on the 'CAPS', under 'Curriculum', for copies of all the documents.
1.4 The purpose of this circular is to outline the programme and promotion requirements for Grades R – 12 in 2012.
1.5 This circular replaces the section entitled "General" of Circular 0049/2010: The Implementation of the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) Grades R – 12 during the period 2012 – 2014.

2. Phased Implementation of the new promotion requirements
2.1 The new promotion requirements will be implemented as follows:

Year Implementation of Government Gazette No. 34600 Continuation of the use of Government Gazette No. 29626 Continuation of The National Senior Certificate: A Qualification at Level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), Government Gazette No 27819
2012 Grades R, 1, 2, 3 and Grade 10 Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Grades 11, 12
2013 Grades R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and Grades 10 and 11 Grades 7, 8, 9 Grade 12
2014 Full implementation across all grades    
2.2 In 2012, only Grades R, 1, 2, 3 and 10 are affected by the newly introduced programme and promotion requirements. All other grades follow the progression and promotion prescriptions as stipulated by their respective policies.

3. Scales of achievement for the National Curriculum Statement (Grades R – 3 and Grade 10) in 2012

The national policy pertaining to the programme and promotion requirements prescribes that the following levels of competence be used for recording and reporting for Grade R to Grade 3 and Grade 10 from 2012 onwards

Achievement level Achievement description Marks %
7 Outstanding achievement 80 – 100
6 Meritorious achievement 70 – 79
5 Substantial achievement 60 – 69
4 Adequate achievement 50 – 59
3 Moderate achievement 40 – 49
2 Elementary achievement 30 – 39
1 Not achieved 0 – 29

Grades 4 – 9 will continue to use the levels of achievement indicated in Government Gazette 29626. Grades 11 and 12 will follow the levels of achievement as indicated in the National Senior Certificate Policy.

4. Recording and reporting
4.1 Recording and reporting for Grades R – 3 from 2012 onwards

Grade Record Report
Grades R - 3 National codes
Achievement descriptions
National codes
Achievement descriptions
4.2 Recording and reporting for Grade 10 from 2012 onwards

Teachers must record learners’ results in marks and report them as percentages. The percentage obtained will determine which rating code on the scale of achievement will be allocated to a learner.

4.3 Recording and reporting for Grades 4 – 9 and Grades 11 and 12 in 2012

For Grades 4 – 9 in 2012, recording and reporting will be completed according to the stipulations set out in Government Gazette No. 29626. For Grades 11 and 12 in 2012, recording and reporting will be completed according to the National Senior Certificate policy.


5. Programme requirements
5.1 Programme requirements for the Foundation Phase (Grades R – 3)

Programme Requirements Time allocation per week
Foundation Phase Grades         R – 3 from 2012 onwards Grade R Grades 1 – 2 Grade 3
Home Language 10 hours 7 / 8 hours 7 / 8 hours
First Additional Language   2 / 3 hours 3 / 4 hours
Mathematics 7 hours 7 hours 7 hours
Life Skills 6 hours 6 hours 7 hours
Total 23 hours 23 hours 25 hours
5.2 Programme requirements for Grades 4 – 9 in 2012

For Grades 4 – 9 in 2012, the programme requirements are stipulated according to Government Gazette No. 29626.

5.3 Programme requirements for Grades 10 – 12 from 2012 onwards

The approved subjects that comply with the programme requirements of Grades 10 – 12 are listed in Annexure B of the National Policy Pertaining to the Programme and Promotion Requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12. Learners must offer seven (7) subjects as indicated in the table below:

Subject no. Subjects Learner options
Group A: Four (4) subjects
1 Home Language Compulsory
2 First Additional Language Compulsory
  One of the two languages offered must be the language of learning and teaching.
3 Mathematics One of the two subjects is compulsory.
Mathematical Literacy
4 Life Orientation Compulsory Compulsory
Group B: Three (3) subjects
The three subjects must be selected from Annexure B, as found in the National Policy Pertaining to the Programme and Promotion Requirements of the National Curriculum Statement
Grades R -12
.

6. Promotion requirements
6.1 Promotion requirements for Grades 1 - 3 from 2012 onwards

The following are guidelines for determining a learner’s progress in Grades 1 – 3 from 2012 onwards:

Promotion requirements Rating code
(1 – 7)
Weighting of school-based assessment with end-of-year examinations
Home Language
OR
First Additional Language
PLUS
Mathematics
4
 
3
 
3
SBA = 100% of total mark/final promotion mark
6.2 Promotion requirements for Grades 4 – 9 in 2012

In 2012, Grades 4 – 9 will follow the progression and promotion requirements as stipulated in Government Gazette No. 29626.

6.3 Promotion requirements for Grade 10

Learners in Grade 10 will be promoted if they have:

6.3.1 offered and completed the school-based assessment, practical assessment tasks (where applicable) and the end-of-year examination requirements in no fewer than seven subjects; and
6.3.2 achieved 40% in three subjects, one of which is an official language at Home Language level and 30% in three subjects, provided that the school-based assessment component is submitted for the subject failed.

Promotion requirements Percentage achieved
Subject 1: Home Language 40%
Subject 2 40%
Subject 3 40%
Subject 4 30%
Subject 5 30%
Subject 6 30%
6.3.3 The norm for repetition is stipulated in paragraph 31 of the Admission policy for ordinary public schools, Government Notice 2432 in the Government Gazette, Vol. 400, No. 19377 of 19 October 1998, as one year per school phase where necessary.
6.4 Promotion requirements for Grades 11 and 12 in 2012

In 2012, Grades 11 and 12 will follow the promotion requirements stipulated in the National Senior Certificate policy.


7. Kindly bring the content of this circular to the attention of all concerned.


SIGNED: PA VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2012:03:22

Government Gazette No. 34600  (size: 115 KB)
Government Gazette No. 29626  (size: 894 KB)
Government Gazette No. 19377  (size: 68 KB)