| 1. |
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) issued Circular S10 of 2015 regarding the incremental implementation of Mandarin as a non-official language from 2016 to 2018. |
| 2. |
The Second Additional Language for Grades 4 to 9 will be regarded as an additional subject not to be taken into account for promotion requirements, as outlined in paragraph 14 of the National Policy Pertaining to the Programme and Promotion Requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R to 12. |
| 3. |
Moreover, the offering of Mandarin in Grades 4 to 9 as a Second Additional Language is outside the contact time and also does not count towards promotion requirements. Optional languages may only be offered if the school can make arrangements for the allocation of additional time to the allocated 27.5 hours of weekly instructional time. |
| 4. |
The roll-out of Mandarin will be incrementally implemented in schools as follows: Grades 4 to 9 and 10 will be implemented in January 2016, followed by Grade 11 in 2017 and Grade 12 in 2018. |
| 5. |
The implementation of an optional language in the Intermediate Phase (Grades 4-6) and in the Senior Phase (Grades 7-9) in public schools is subject to the approval of the Provincial Head of Education. |
| 6. |
For the Further Education and Training (FET) Phase (Grades 10-12), subject to paragraphs 28(5) and 28(6) of the National Policy Pertaining to the Programme and Promotion Requirements of the National Curriculum Statements Grades R to 12, a minimum of any three subjects selected from Group B in Annexure B, Tables B1-B8 of the mentioned document may be offered. Of the minimum three required subjects, a maximum of two additional languages over and above the two official languages contemplated in subparagraph (a) may be offered from both Tables A1 and B4 of the above document. |
| 7. |
Schools wishing to introduce Mandarin must use the same process as indicated in Circular 11 of 2010 – INCREASING OR REDUCING THE NUMBER OF GRADES OR SUBJECTS, OR CHANGING THE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION (GRADES R-12). The closing date for applications has been extended for the incremental implementation of Mandarin to 30 September 2015. |
| 8. |
In preparation for implementation, the relevant CAPS documents are available on the DBE’s website: www.education.gov.za under CAPS. |
| 9. |
This Curriculum Minute should be read in conjunction with the Mandarin CAPS documents. |
| 10. |
You are kindly requested to bring the contents of this Curriculum Minute to the attention of all provincial and district officials, and principals and teachers of both public and independent schools. |
SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2015:09:03
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