1. Applications are invited from teachers who wish to mark examination scripts for the November 2009 National Senior Certificate Examinations. The subject papers to be marked are on the attached list.

2. Criteria for the 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-year, but preferably third-year, level, or another appropriate post Senior Certificate qualification in the subject.
2.2 Applicants 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: 2008 and 2009. However, preference will be given to teachers currently teaching the NCS to Grade 12 candidates.
2.3 All applicants must be in service at institutions that prepare candidates for the National Senior Certificate Examinations set by the national Department of Education (DOE).
2.4 To ensure that the effective functioning of the school is not affected by the absence of teachers, where possible, no more than 30% of the teachers at a school will be appointed as markers. Principals are to take this into consideration when endorsing applications to mark.
2.5 The final decision as to which teachers can be appointed as markers rests with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
2.6 Applicants who apply to mark Paper 2 (Literature) in the Languages must have read and made a study of all works prescribed for the examination, and not only those books studied by the candidates at their own schools. These applicants must indicate in their applications the titles of the prescribed works they are able to mark.
2.7 To qualify as a marker, a teacher must have obtained at least a 50% pass rate in the subject concerned.
2.8 Applicants who have indicated their intention to resign or retire and who will terminate their services with the WCED by 30 September 2009, will not be considered for appointment as a marker, except in cases where the teacher concerned is joining an independent school whose candidates write the National Senior Certificate Examinations of the DOE.
2.9 No teacher who has been on sick leave for 25% or more of the current school year or who will be on sick leave at the time of marking will be appointed as a marker.
2.10 An applicant must complete a separate application form for each question paper which he or she applies to mark. On each application form, the applicant must indicate his or her preferred appointment.
2.11 All new applicants must attach a certified copy of their highest academic qualification certificate or academic study record, indicating the subjects the applicant has studied and passed. All new applications that are not accompanied by these certified copies of qualifications 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 in other papers, 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 education district Directors for approval;
  • The 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
Directorate: Examinations Administration
Attention: Mr M. Cameron / Mr N. Riddles
Western Cape Education Department
Grand Central Towers
Lower Parliament Street
Cape Town
8001

A copy of the attached prescribed application form is 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 18 May 2009. Under no circumstances may applications be sent directly to chief markers. 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 Administration, and not to chief markers. 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

3.4 Approval of Applications

Completed application forms from teachers must be signed by the school principal or centre manager. Principals / Centre managers must verify the correctness of the applicant's details before signing the applicant's form(s).

Completed application forms from curriculum managers, principals and centre managers must be signed by the education district Director.

Completed application forms from curriculum advisers must be signed by the Director or curriculum manager of the education district office.

Completed application forms from senior FET Advisors must be signed by the Director: Curriculum FET.
3.5 Application forms that are not signed by managers or supervisors 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 venue or venues in or near Cape Town, as determined by the WCED.
4.2 The dates of the marking period 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 meals and tea breaks. The marking centre will be open 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, chief marker and marker will be taxed in accordance with the Income Tax Act.
4.5 It is imperative that principals, education district Directors, IMG advisers and curriculum advisers bring the contents of this minute to the attention of all teachers. The Examinations Directorate cannot accept any responsibility if teachers are not informed of the contents of this minute.

5. The marking of the National Senior Certificate examinations is one of the most important functions of the examinations process. The WCED takes pride in the appointment of qualified and competent markers. Principals and other senior officials who recommend markers must act in good faith. Note, therefore, that the supplying of incorrect information on an application form will be regarded as fraud and will be dealt with in terms of the Employment of Educators Act.
6. All new markers will be expected to attend a voluntary training session prior to the marking session.
7. Principals must acknowledge receipt of this minute on the attached form, which must be returned to this office by 11 May 2009.


SIGNED: T SINGH
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2009:04:23

Annexure A: List of Subject Papers to be marked  (size: 16 KB)
Application form  (size: 52 KB)
Acknowledgement of Receipt form  (size: 36 KB)