1. Applications are invited from teachers who wish to mark examination scripts for the November 2007 Senior Certificate Examinations. The subject papers to be marked are on the attached list.
2. Criteria for appointment of markers
2.1 Applicants must be in possession of a recognised three-year post Senior Certificate qualification, which must include the relevant subject at second- or third-year level, or another appropriate post Senior Certificate qualification in the subject.
2.2 Teachers must have at least one year’s experience in teaching the subject concerned at Grade 12 level. They must also have taught the subject for at least one year in one of the following years: 2005, 2006, 2007
2.3 All applicants must be in service at institutions that prepare candidates for the Western Cape Senior Certificate Examinations.
2.4 No teacher may be appointed as a marker if he or she returned a subject pass rate of less than 50% in the Senior Certificate Examinations of the previous year.
2.5

To ensure that the effective functioning of the institution is not affected by the absence of teachers, where possible, no more than 30% of the teachers at a particular institution will be appointed as markers. Principals are to take this into consideration when endorsing applications for marking.

The final decision as to which teachers can be appointed as markers rests with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). Note, however, that each year there is a shortage of applications to mark the following subjects:

Biology HG & SG, Papers 1 & 2
English First Language HG & SG, Papers 1, 2 & 3
English Second Language HG & SG, Papers 1, 2 & 3
Mathematics HG & SG, Papers 1 & 2
Physical Science HG & SG, Papers 1 & 2
Introduction to Criminology SG
2.6 Applicants who apply to mark Paper 2 in Languages must have read and made a study of all works prescribed for the examination.
2.7 The appointment of markers will be in line with the WCED's Employment Equity Plan and therefore it is imperative that applicants state their race and gender on the application form.
2.8 Applicants who have indicated their intention to resign or retire and who will terminate their services with the WCED by 28 September 2007, will not be considered for appointment as a marker, except in cases where the teacher concerned is joining an independent school writing WCED exams.
2.9 No teacher who is on sick leave at the time of the marking period will be appointed as a marker for the Senior Certificate Examinations.
2.10 An applicant must complete a separate application form for each question paper for which he or she applies to mark.
2.11 A certified copy of the applicant’s highest academic qualification certificate or notification of results, indicating the subjects the applicant has studied and passed, must accompany each application form. All application forms that are not accompanied by these certified copies of qualifications, including those of applicants who have marked before, will not be considered. No exceptions will be made and no correspondence will be entered into with applicants in this regard.
2.12 Internal moderators of papers that have a small number of candidates and who, in addition to their function as internal moderators, wish to be appointed as markers, must also apply in the above manner.
2.13 Although the Department would prefer that principals be present at their schools at the end of the academic year, principals may also apply for appointment as markers. The selection of principals as markers will be subject to, amongst others, the following conditions:

  • All applications from principals will be submitted to the EMDC directors for approval.

  • A primary consideration will be whether a school will be able to function effectively in the absence of the principal during the marking period.

  • Appropriate arrangements must be made for a member of staff to act as principal during the principal’s absence. Delegation of responsibilities must be done in writing.

  • The school must be able to function without the presence of the principal and the school’s learner promotion process must not be jeopardised by the principal’s absence.
3. Application procedure
3.1 Applications must be sent to the following address:

Head: Education
For attention: Mr Mark Cameron (Room 4-15)
Directorate: Examinations
Western Cape Education Department
Grand Central Towers
Lower Parliament Street
CAPE TOWN
8001

Copies of the attached prescribed application form are also obtainable from the above address, or from the WCED’s website at http://wced.wcape.gov.za/circulars.

3.2

Applications must be sent by registered mail and the receipt issued by the Post Office must be kept as proof of postage. However, applications may also be delivered by hand to the Directorate: Examinations, 4th Floor, Grand Central Towers building, where a receipt for every application received will be issued.

Application forms must reach the Directorate: Examinations by 16:00 on 26 April 2007. Under no circumstances may applications be sent directly to examiners. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. The onus is on applicants to ensure that their applications reach this office by the closing date.

3.3 All enquiries, whether by telephone or in writing, must be directed to the Directorate: Examinations, and not to examiners. Contact one of the following officials: 
Mr Mark Cameron	tel. 021 467 2964, e-mail  
mgcamero@pgwc.gov.za
Mr N Riddles	tel. 021 467 2992, e-mail  
nriddles@pgwc.gov.za
Ms NM Janda	tel. 021 467 2009, e-mail 
njanda@pgwc.gov.za
3.4

Approval of applications

Completed application forms from teachers must be signed by the school principal or centre manager.

Completed application forms from chief curriculum advisers, principals and centre managers must be signed by the EMDC director.

Completed application forms from curriculum advisers must be signed by the director or chief curriculum adviser of the EMDC.

Completed application forms from senior curriculum planners must be signed by the Director for Curriculum Development.
3.5 Unsigned applications will not be considered.
3.6 Applicants are kindly requested to indicate their meal preferences on their application forms. Note that the Department cannot accommodate any meal preference changes during the marking period.
4. Arrangements for the marking period
4.1 All marking will be done at a central venue in or near Cape Town, as determined by the WCED.
4.2 It is anticipated that the marking of examination scripts will commence at 07:30 on Thursday, 29 November 2007 and end at 18:00 on Wednesday, 5 December 2007. These dates will be confirmed later. Markers must ensure that all their school-related marking and administrative tasks have been completed prior to the commencement of marking.
4.3 Markers will be expected to mark scripts for at least 8 hours a day. This excludes time set aside for meal and tea breaks. The marking centre will be accessible for marking from 06:00 to 22:00 daily.
4.4 The marking tariff for each paper will be made available as soon as it is received from the national Department of Education. Every moderator, examiner and marker will be taxed in accordance with the Income Tax Act.
4.5 It is imperative that principals, EMDC directors, circuit managers and curriculum advisers bring the content of this minute to the attention of all teachers, including those on leave. The Examinations Directorate cannot accept any responsibility if teachers are not informed of the contents of this Examinations minute.
5. As the marking of the Senior Certificate Examinations question papers is an extremely valuable and rewarding experience for teachers, the WCED aims to ensure that marking panels include new markers each year. Employment equity is also a very important consideration in this regard. All teachers who qualify to mark are therefore strongly encouraged to apply. Principals and curriculum advisers are requested to encourage competent teachers to apply.
6. All new markers will be expected to attend a training session prior to the marking session.
7. Principals must acknowledge receipt of this Examinations minute on the attached form, which must be returned to this office by 18 April 2007.


SIGNED: AP CLAUSEN
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2007:03:29

List of Subject Codes  (size: 18 KB)
Application Form  (size: 34 KB)
Acknowledgement of Receipt Form  (size: 28 KB)