1. The WCED will once again provide opportunities for adults to write national ABET level 4 examinations in June and October this year. The June examination starts on 1 June and will end on 22 June 2006 while the October examination starts on 11 October 2006 and ends on 31 October 2006. Detailed timetables will be provided to all centres during the course of the year and both examinations will be monitored by the WCED, the national Department of Education and UMALUSI.
2. The ratio of examination to site-based assessment remains at 50:50 and the national learning area guidelines that accompanied Circular 75/2002 must be used.
3. In accordance with provincial policy, candidates must be encouraged to enter the examination only if they are ready for the assessment.
4. The examination is currently used to statistically moderate the site-based assessment as indicated in Circular 27/2004 and thus it is important that all learners that sit for the examination be trained in examination techniques. Educators are advised to consult the ABET chief marker’s reports that accompany this curriculum minute as well as previous question papers when they prepare candidates for the examinations. CDs of past papers and suggested answers are available from Edumedia (tel (021) 689-9536).
5. The site-based assessment system requires that a portfolio of evidence be presented for each learner for each learning area. Portfolios will only be accepted once they have been moderated by the EMDC curriculum advisers. UMALUSI will verify the moderation process of the province and thus the process of three meetings (standard setting, monitoring and final moderation) must be adhered to by all centres and EMDCs.
6. Each learner portfolio must contain a minimum of five suitable items that are based on the unit standards and which follow the learning area guidelines. The items may not all be tests, although testing is an important assessment methodology. The final mark for all the portfolio items must be recorded using the accompanying mark sheets as a percentage (out of 100). Electronic versions of the mark sheet may be obtained from the WCED website (address below) or from your EMDC curriculum advisers.
7. The final site-based assessment marks, learner portfolios and educator portfolios containing the assessment tools, feedback to learners, learning programmes, etc. must be moderated by the EMDC curriculum advisers where after they will be verified by the provincial office and UMALUSI.
8. Learner portfolios without the relevant educator portfolio will not be accepted and thus these learners will be regarded as having an incomplete result.
9. For support, please contact your EMDC official responsible for ABET:
EMDCABET officialTelephone (work)
Breede River & OverbergMr Joaniel Pieterse023 348 4619
Metropole CentralMr Derrick Sayster (acting)021 659 4344
Metropole EastMr Mike Pick (acting)021 900 0966
Metropole NorthMs Winifred Taylor021 938 3032
Metropole SouthMs Zukiswa Ntontela (acting)021 370 2056
South Cape & KarooMr Jewel Jonkers
Mr Dirk Henry		044 873 6128
023 415 2070
West Coast & WinelandsMs Juanita Cornelissen021 860 1200

10. For further support, Mr J. Parbhoo may be contacted at 021 467 2572 or e-mail jparbhoo@pgwc.gov.za.
11. Refer also to the website http://curriculum.wcape.school.za/site/19/page/view/ for the following information:
11.1 All ABET policy documents, including circulars
11.2 All the learning area guidelines for ABET level 4
11.3 Recommended assessment items (available in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa)
11.4 Reports on all previous ABET national examinations
12. Please bring the contents of this minute to the attention of all educators and learners involved in ABET level 4.


SIGNED: J.P. RAULT-SMITH
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2006:03:15

Marksheet  (size: 9 KB)