1. This Minute which relates to the implementation of the literature set-works for Grade 12 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 examinations must be read in conjunction with Circular S4 of 2008 dated 8 May 2008; Circular S13 of 2013 dated 2 December 2013; Circular S15 of 2014 dated 12 November 2014 and Circular S4 of 2016 dated 28 October 2016.

2. After the release of the first Grade 10-12 Literature Catalogue in 2015, it was established that some languages did not have new materials in all the genres as required. The DBE undertook a subsequent screening process on 2016, in an attempt to fill the gaps. However, the 2016 screening process could still not identify suitable materials to fill all the gaps as was intended.

3. After consultation with all the stakeholders, and given that there are no new materials in some required titles, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has decided to put the following transitional measures in place:

Official Home Languages (HL) and First Additional Languages (FAL)

  1. Where the 2015 Literature Catalogue provides a full complement for a specific genre, the new titles will be implemented in 2017 as scheduled. For example, English Home Language has a full complement of two new novels (both classic and contemporary). This means that the two new novels will be studied in 2017, and questions set thereon in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC literature question paper.
  2. Where the 2015 Literature Catalogue does not provide a full complement of titles in a genre, the missing titles must be replaced by the titles from Circular S4 of 2008. For example, in the case of a Home Language with only one drama instead of two, learners will have an option of studying the new drama or choosing one from the list cited in Circular S4 of 2008.
  3. Where there are no new titles for a particular genre in the 2015 Literature Catalogue, titles cited in Circular S4 of 2008, will be studied and assessed in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC examinations.
4. It is important to note that only one Poetry Anthology is prescribed for each official Home and First Additional Language. If the language level has a new anthology of poems, the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC question paper will comprise poems selected from the new anthology.

5. Similarly, where the 2015 Literature Catalogue does not provide a new anthology of poems, for example, IsiZulu FAL, the anthology as cited in Circular S4 of 2008 will be studied and assessed in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC examinations.

6. Similar to poetry, only one anthology for short stories is prescribed for each official First Additional Language. If the language level has a new anthology, the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 examinations will be set on the short stories selected from the 2015 Literature Catalogue.

7. In the event where the 2015 Literature Catalogue does not provide a new anthology for short stories, for example, IsiXhosa FAL, the anthology for short stories, as cited in Circular S4 of 2008, will be studied and assessed in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC examinations.

8. Guidance provided in Circular S15 of 2014 with regards to Folklore (the nine official African HL) still applies for the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC examinations.

9. Attached in Annexure a (page 1-5) is a list of the titles of the Novels to be studied in 2017 for each official Home and First Additional Language.

10. Annexure B (page 6-10) comprises a list of the titles of the Drama to be studied in 2017 for each official Home and First Additional Language.

11. Annexure C (page 11-23) comprises a list of the titles of the Poems to be studied in 2017 for each official Home and First Additional Language.

12. Annexure D (page 24-30) comprises a list of the Short Stories to be studied in 2017 for each official First Additional Language.

13. Annexure E (page 31-40) lists the titles of the Folklore to be studied in 2017 for each official African Home Language.

14. Annexure F (page 41-43) comprises a list of the titles for official Second Additional Languages.

Official Second Additional Languages (SAL)

15. Whilst the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) prescribes the introduction of four genres, namely, poetry, novel, drama and short stories, in the SAL Paper One, the selection process could not identify a full complement of suitable titles in a number of SALs.

16. As a result, the Second Additional Languages (SALs) will offer the titles that are available in the Literature Catalogue for the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC examinations. Where there are no new titles, the affected SALs will continue to offer only Short Stories for the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC examinations as per Circular S13 of 2013, except for IsiXhosa SAL. Where there are new titles, these will be implemented in addition to the existing Short Stories, except for isiXhosa SAL.

17. New titles have been identified in the following languages and will be implemented in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC examinations. Refer to pages 41 to 43 for the list of titles.

  • IsiZulu SAL and Siswati SAL, Titles for new anthologies for short stories have been identified
  • In Afrikaans SAL, a new drama title has been identified
  • In English SAL, a novel, drama and a poetry anthology have been identified
  • In isiXhosa SAL, a new novel and drama titles have been identified
  • In Setswana SAL, a new novel title has been identified.
18. You are urgently requested to bring the content of this Minute to the attention of all stakeholders.


SIGNED: PAD BEETS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2017:01:10

Annexures  (size: 4 291 KB)