1. The CTAs will once again be administered in the 4th term of the academic year and are the only formal assessment tasks that are recorded for that term. Grade 9 learners at public and independent schools must complete both the CASS and CTA (Section A and Section B). Section B, the pen-and-paper test, will be written over two hours in each learning area.
2. During the preparations for the provincial testing of Grade 9 learners, you were requested to ensure that the data for all Grade 9 learners on the CEMIS database be updated by 31 January 2008.
3. In the past, numerous appeals have been received from schools that received the incorrect number of test papers, owing to the fact that their totals on CEMIS were incorrect. Incidents like these creates tremendous problems, not only for the Department, but also for learners, who already find themselves under great pressure.
4. As the CTAs will be delivered to you in the 3rd term, principals are once again requested to update their Grade 9 learner data on CEMIS by no later than 23 May 2008. In this connection, it is particularly important to ensure that learners are registered correctly for the different languages levels that they offer.
5. In view of the afore-mentioned, if a school has not updated its CEMIS data, that school will be responsible for ensuring that each learner receives the appropriate CTA book(s) in which to write the CTA, as the WCED will not supply any additional copies.
6. Kindly note that for the General Education Certificate to be awarded, in future each learner must be registered, with his or her correct identity document number, on CEMIS.
7. Your co-operation will be much appreciated.


SIGNED: AP CLAUSEN
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2008:05:08