1. Applications are invited from teachers, curriculum advisers and senior curriculum planners who would like to serve as markers for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations from November 2010 until the March 2012 supplementary examinations. The list of NSC subjects and question papers is attached as Annexure A.

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.
2.2 Applicants must have a minimum of two years experience in teaching the subject concerned at Grade 12 level. They must also have taught the subject for at least two of the following years: 2008, 2009 and 2010. However, preference will be given to teachers currently teaching the National Curriculum Statement to Grade 12 candidates.
2.3 All applicants must be in service at institutions that prepare candidates for the NSC examinations set by the national Department of Basic Education (DBE).
2.4 In order to improve the quality of marking and to ensure that candidates are not disadvantaged, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will only consider those applicants who have a proven track record of excellent results in the subject concerned in the 2008 and 2009 NSC examinations.
2.5 Only applicants who have achieved a minimum pass rate of 60% in their classes in the subject concerned will be considered for appointment as markers in 2010 and beyond.
2.6 Applicants who have indicated their intention to resign or retire, and who will terminate their services with the WCED by 30 September of 2010, will not be considered for appointment as markers, except in cases where the teacher concerned is joining a independent school whose candidates write the NSC examinations of the DBE.
2.7 Candidates who intend to retire by 30 September 2011 will have to inform the WCED timeously.
2.8 A person, who is on leave during the period leading up to the marking period and inclusive thereof, will have their appointment as a marker terminated. A person who, by the end of the year, had been on leave for more than 50 days, will also have their appointment terminated.
2.9 Although the WCED would prefer principals to be present at their schools at the end of the academic year, principals may also apply for appointment as markers. All principals must submit their personal applications for marking to the Education District Director for approval.
2.10 To ensure a high standard of marking, all successful applicants will be subjected to a competency assessment.
2.11 The WCED will terminate the appointment of any marker who does not perform satisfactorily in the execution of his or her marking responsibilities during any of the above-mentioned marking periods.
2.12 The final decision in the appointment of markers rests with the Superintendent-General of the WCED.

3. Application procedure
3.1 The WCED would prefer all applications to be submitted online. However, applicants who do not have access to the internet may submit their application by post or hand deliver them to the WCED.
3.2 All online applications must be made at http://wced.wcape.gov.za before 28 May 2010.
3.3 The online marker application form consists of five sections:
3.3.1 Section A: Personal information
3.3.2 Section B: Qualifications
3.3.3 Section C: Subject information
3.3.4 Section D: Declaration by the applicant
3.3.5 Section E: Certification by principal or supervisor
3.4 Applicants must complete a separate online application for each question paper for which they apply to mark.
3.5 Internal moderators of papers with a small number of candidates who, in addition to their function as internal moderators, wish to be appointed as markers in other papers, must also apply in the manner described above.
3.6 All online applications must be submitted by 28 May 2010.
3.7 It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their application has been certified by their principal or supervisor.

4. First-time applicants
4.1 All first-time applicants must, in addition to submitting an application online, print a copy of their final certified application and post this, together with certified copies of the following documents, to the Directorate: Examinations Administration

  • Highest academic qualification certificate;
  • Highest professional qualification certificate; and
  • Academic study record(s), indicating the subjects studied and passed.

Applications from first-time applicants that are not accompanied by the above-mentioned documents will not be considered. No exceptions will be made and no correspondence will be entered into in this regard.
4.2 The application and supporting documentation can also be hand-delivered or sent by registered mail to the following address:

Head: Education
Attention: Mr M. Cameron / Mr N. Riddles
Directorate: Examinations Administration
Western Cape Education Department
4th Floor Grand Central Towers
Lower Parliament Street
CAPE TOWN
8001
4.3 Certified application forms and relevant documentation from new applicants must reach the Directorate: Examinations Administration by 16:00 on 28 May 2010.

5. Certification of online applications
5.1 Principals and supervisors must certify all online applications between 28 May and 04 June 2010. Applications that have not been approved by the principal or supervisor will not be accepted by the WCED.
5.2 Completed application forms from curriculum advisers and principals must be certified by the Education District Director, or his or her delegate.
5.3 Completed application forms from FET senior curriculum planners must be certified by the Director: Curriculum FET or her delegate.

6. Hard-copy applications
6.1 Hard copy applications must be made on the attached application form (Annexure B) and must be accompanied by the following:

  • A covering letter in which the applicant gives his or her reasons for applying for the position.
  • A completed Declaration Form, a copy of which is attached to this minute as
    (Annexure C).
6.2 The application form and declaration form must be completed in full, certified by the relevant principal or supervisor, and posted or delivered to the Directorate: Examinations Administration by 28 May 2010 (see paragraph 4.2 above for the address).

7. Arrangements for the marking period
7.1 All marking will be done at a venue or venues in or near Cape Town, as determined by the WCED.
7.2 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 before the commencement of marking.
7.3 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.
7.4 Markers will be requested to attend a training session.

8. The marking tariff for each paper will be made available as soon as it is received from the Department of Basic Education

9. The marking of the NSC examinations scripts is one of the most important functions of the examining process. The WCED takes pride in its appointment of qualified and competent markers. Principals and other senior officials who recommend markers must, therefore, act in good faith. Please note that supplying incorrect information on the application form will be regarded as fraud and will be dealt with in terms of the Employment of Educators Act.

10. All enquiries, whether by telephone or in writing, must be directed to the Directorate: Examinations Administration, and not to the chief markers. Applicants may 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 E Nysschen tel. 021 467 2010, e-mail enyssche@pgwc.gov.za
Ms C Mentor tel. 021 467 2009, e-mail cmentor@pgwc.gov.za

11. 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 Directorate: Examinations Administration cannot accept any responsibility if teachers are not informed of the contents of this minute.

12. Principals are requested to acknowledge receipt of this minute on the attached form (Annexure D), which must be returned to this office by 27 May 2010.


SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2010-05-14

Annexure A: List of NSC subjects and question papers  (size: 21 KB)
Annexure B: Application Form  (size: 44 KB)
Annexure C: Declaration Form  (size: 38 KB)
Annexure D: Acknowledgement of receipt  (size: 38 KB)