1. Monitoring of quality of education in independent schools
1.1 Independent schools registered with the Department of Education are required, in terms of the Education Amendment Act, to offer quality education at least equivalent to that offered in public schools.
1.2 EMDCs are required to monitor the quality of education offered and to ensure that independent schools offer the National Curriculum Statement, unless the school is registered as a school for foreign learners.
1.3 Such monitoring should take place at regular intervals, based on the findings during such visits.
1.4 Monitoring of the curriculum and quality of education must not be onerous on the schools and must take place following written communication with the principal giving full reasons for the visit and indicating documentation and interaction required.
1.5 As WCED does not offer full curriculum support to independent schools, teachers at these schools may not be compelled to attend developmental and support cluster meetings.
2. Assessment for qualifications in independent schools
2.1 Umalusi requires that Assessment Bodies moderate the school-based assessment of all learners offering a qualification awarded by Umalusi. It must be noted that the National Senior Certificate is offered over a period of three years from Grade 10 to Grade 12.
2.2 Clause 94 of the National Policy on Assessment and Qualifications for Schools in the General Education and Training Band requires that all accredited examining bodies meet assessment requirements in terms of the provisions of Umalusi. Therefore, unless an independent school is registered with the Independent Examination Board (IEB) for Grade 9 assessment, the school must offer the Common Tasks for Assessment (CTA), as provided by WCED, and teachers must present the evidence of learning for moderation. Schools must inform the EMDC Director and the Director: Curriculum Development if they are offering the IEB Grade 9 assessment tasks.
2.3 Where an independent school has been awarded "Five Years Full Accreditation" by Umalusi, teachers at the school cannot be compelled to attend the standard setting meeting, but may take own responsibility for standard setting.
2.4 As WCED does not offer direct curriculum support to independent schools, unless such support is specifically requested in writing, independent schools cannot be compelled to attend the second moderation meeting of the year, which has a developmental nature and is intended to offer support to teachers.
2.5 All independent schools must attend the final moderation session of the year for Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 if they are not writing IEB examinations at Grade 9 and/or Grade 12 level.
2.6 Moderation sessions must take place at a time that will not disrupt the schooling process. Consideration must be given to holding moderation sessions during the writing of the examinations when substitutes can supervise in place of the teachers attending a moderation session. Should a principal feel that the timing of a moderation session is unreasonable, the EMDC Director must be informed in writing.
2.7 Should a teacher from an independent school fail to attend a final moderation session, the Director or the Chief Curriculum Adviser must inform the principal in writing and alternative arrangements must be made for moderation.
3. Independent schools and national examinations
3.1 Independent schools that are not registered to write the Grade 9 CTAs and/or the (National) Senior Certificate with the Independent Examination Board must complete all prescribed school-based assessment tasks and write all required examinations.
3.2 Independent schools are not compelled to write examinations that are intended to set standards for public schools, such as the 2007 Grade 11 examinations.


SIGNED: J.P. RAULT-SMITH
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2007:06:08