1. The following logistical arrangements have been approved to ensure that the 2004 school year draws to a close in an orderly manner.
2. The National Minister of Education has announced that the 2004 Senior Certificate Examination results for all provinces will be made known to schools on Wednesday 29 December 2004 and to the media on Thursday 30 December 2004.
3. In order to ensure that the Western Cape Education Department has the results ready by that date, the marking of the examination scripts must commence on Wednesday 1 December 2004.
4. The fourth term ends on Friday 3 December 2004 for learners and on Wednesday 8 December 2004 for educators (refer to Circular 05/2004).
5. As the last day of school attendance for all learners from Grades R to 11 is Friday 3 December 2004, the internal end-of-the-year assessment must proceed as follows:
5.1 Grades R to 7

Grade R to 7 educators may finalise their documentation for Continuous Assessment (CASS) and their progression schedules in the last week of November 2004, as these learners are not required to write examinations.
5.2 Grade 8

Tests written as part of CASS in Grade 8 must be written between Thursday 4 November 2004 and Tuesday 23 November 2004.
5.3 Grade 9

The Common Tasks for Assessment (CTAs) must be dealt with in the following manner:

Section A: Monday 4 October to Friday 5 November 2004 during normal school hours, in preparation for Section B.

Section B: From Monday 8 November to Monday 22 November 2004 as per circulated national timetable (refer to Circular 35/2004).
5.2 Grades 10 and 11

At secondary schools examinations may be written in the course of a maximum of 14 days. The internal examinations for Grades 10 and 11 must be written between Thursday 4 November 2004 and Tuesday 23 November 2004 to ensure that the necessary procedures have been dealt with and that the documentation is ready in time for the moderation and progression that must be completed by the EMDC multifunctional teams by Monday 6 December 2004. All examination timetables must be submitted to the EMDC Director concerned for final approval.
6. Examination arrangements for Grade 12 learners
6.1 The Senior Certificate Examination commences on Monday 11 October 2004 and ends on Friday 19 November 2004 ( refer to Circular 26/2004 ).
6.2 The last day of school attendance for Grade 12 learners before the commencement of the Senior Certificate Examination is Wednesday 6 October 2004. It must be emphasized that candidates remain under the jurisdiction of the school until the examination ends on 19 November 2004.
7. CASS procedures
7.1 Learner profiles and portfolios must be available for moderation and progression by EMDC multifunctional teams at the end of the school year.
7.2 Evidence of assessment and the recording thereof are the determining factors when decisions regarding learner progression are taken at the end of the school year.
7.3 All role-players must realise the importance of verified, updated and maintained profiles and portfolios, as these portray the learner's progress throughout the year.
8. Learner safety at the end of the year
8.1 Each learner’s safety is always of the utmost importance. Schools are requested to discuss safety measures as a priority with all personnel when the planning for the end of the year is done.
8.2 Parents of learners and members of the governing body must be notified in writing of the arrangements for the end of the year and the school's safety plans for learners.
8.3 Parents of learners must be notified in writing if any changes are made to arrangements and also if their children do not adhere to the agreed arrangements.
8.4 The roles, responsibilities, decisions, rules and possible consequences of not planning for learner safety must be explained to all educators, learners and other role-players.
8.5 Service providers of the community, e.g. traffic officials, the municipal police, school transport providers and taxi drivers, must be informed of the school’s plans for the end of the year so that they can be of assistance if necessary.
8.6 Guidelines must be provided for end-of-the-year functions and all the aspects of safety and responsibility must be brought to the attention of all learners.


SIGNED: D.R. SHEPHERD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2004:09:07