1. In terms of Section 3(4)(l) and 7 of the National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No. 27 of 1996) and Sections 6(A) and 61 of the South African Schools Act, (Act No. 84 of 1996), the Minister of Education, in consultation with the Council of Education Ministers, has approved the policy document (proclaimed in Government Gazette Number 27819 of 20 July 2005) describing the regulations, rules and provisos for the award of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) at Level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
2. All learners in Grade 10 in 2006 will offer the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Grades 10 – 12 (General). This cohort of learners will be the first candidates, as from December 2008, to be awarded the National Senior Certificate provided that they are successful in achieving the exit level learning outcomes stipulated in the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) Grades 10 – 12 (General).
3. Full-time, part-time and private candidates will offer this qualification.
4. Unsuccessful Senior Certificate candidates in the Senior Certificate examination of 2007 and part-time candidates already enrolled for the Senior Certificate will be given until March 2011 to complete the Senior Certificate programme. All Senior Certificate subjects successfully completed prior to 2006 will be recognised for the issuing of the Senior Certificate until March 2011.
5. No new enrolments of full-time or part-time learners will be accepted in Grades 10 for any subjects taken from Report 550 (current list of subjects offered for the Senior Certificate) as from 1 January 2006.
6. The national Department of Education has informed the WCED that it will be sending copies of this new policy on the NSC to schools. It is incumbent on the heads of institutions to familiarise themselves with the contents of this new policy and to inform all educators and Grade 10 learners accordingly.


SIGNED: J.P. RAULT-SMITH
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2005:08:17