1. The Education Management Information System (EMIS) in South Africa is required to collect, process and disseminate school education data in order to evaluate the performance of the education system, monitor policy implementation, ensure equitable distribution of resources and track the redressing of previous inequalities.
2. The national Minister of Education has directed that a Mathematics and Physical Science survey be conducted in all provinces to reflect the position as on 18 July 2008.
3. The survey must be conducted in all ordinary schools, public and independent, that offer any or all of Grades 10, 11 and 12.
4. In terms of the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996, chapter 7, Section 59 (2) "Every school must provide such information about the school as is reasonably required by the Head of Department".

The verification requirement emanates from the Education Laws Amendment Act, 2007, with the insertion in Act 84 of 1996 of Section 16 A, 2(g): "…The Principal must provide accurate data to the Head of Department when requested to do so."
5. In the Western Cape the survey will be conducted online via CEMIS. Capture screens have been created on CEMIS which allow the capture of the details required by the survey.
6. The 352 public schools and the 71 independent schools that must complete the survey are required to do the following:
6.1 Log on to CEMIS. There is a message on one of the opening display screens which recommends the procedure.
6.2 Point to the "Surveys" menu item on CEMIS and click on "Maths and Physical Science/Capture Screens".
  • Please print (in LANDSCAPE mode) each of the survey pages and hand to the principal. The principal may delegate the completion of the survey, but takes responsibility for the accuracy of the data provided.
  • The principal must sign the completed pages, which must then be captured by the school CEMIS capturer.
  • The data must be accurately captured online on CEMIS.
  • The capturer must print the online completed survey pages, provide them to the principal for signature and file the original pages and the printed pages at school, as they may be requested for audit purposes.
  • The SIGN-OFF page must be completed on CEMIS. The date of sign-off will be reflected against each part of the survey.
  • The online submission of the survey must be completed.
7. This survey must be captured online as close to 18 July 2008 as possible. The progress in respect of the completion of the online survey will be monitored, as the data must be submitted to the national Department of Education so that reports can be submitted to the Minister of Education.
8. Principals and officials are thanked in anticipation of them having submitted their schools' Mathematics and Physical Science survey online by no later than 31 JULY 2008.
9. Your co-operation in the management of this survey is highly appreciated.


SIGNED: A. SIYENGO
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2008:07:15