1. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) released National Assessment Circular 1 of 2018 on 12 September 2018, which clarifies the application of the mark adjustments and special condonation dispensation for learners in the Senior Phase (Grades 7–9) for this year.

2. In 2018 the mark adjustments and special dispensation for Grades 7–9 must be applied as follows:
2.1 A mark adjustment not exceeding 2% must be applied in a maximum of three subjects.
2.2 Next a condonation in Mathematics must be applied. If a learner has met all the requirements in respect of promotion from one grade to the next (i.e. from Grade 7, 8 or 9 to Grade 8, 9 or 10 respectively), but has not attained a level 3 (40%) in Mathematics and therefore has to be retained, such a learner must be condoned in Mathematics.

3. Schools that make use of Western Cape Education Department (WCED) recording and reporting programmes for Grades 7, 8 and 9 must follow the process described below:
3.1 Schools will be required to download new programmes for Grades 7, 8 and 9 from CEMIS (2018 Version 2) in Term 4 of 2018 and then import the marks from their existing files into the new version.
3.2 A detailed step-by-step procedure will be provided on CEMIS once the 2018 Version 2 programmes have been uploaded. It is expected that Version 2 will be available by 30 October 2018. Both the adjustment and condonation process will be completely automated.
3.3 The schedule, verification page and report card will automatically reflect the changes.

4. Schools that make use of their own recording and reporting programmes and have learners that will be affected by this special condonation dispensation must complete the process as described in the attached DBE National Assessment Circular 1 of 2018 (Annexure A) at the end of the year.

5. The updated schedule, adjustment list and verification page must be printed and presented to the circuit manager for verification at the end of the year.

6. Where applicable, the final promotion status of learners on CEMIS must be captured as "Promoted with Mathematics condonation".

7. Learners who are repeating a grade should not be excluded from the adjustment process.

8. Schools will be required to make use of Version 2 of the recording and reporting programmes for the final term performance upload for Grades 7–9.

9. Please note that this condonation dispensation is only applicable in 2018 for Grades 7, 8 and 9.

10. In the case of Grade 9 learners, it must be noted that learners who do not obtain a minimum mark of 30% in Mathematics (after the condonation has been approved), will not be allowed to offer Mathematics in Grade 10. Such learners may only enrol for Mathematical Literacy. This decision will also have an impact on subject combinations (Physical Sciences requiring Mathematics).

11. The above condonation dispensation does not, in any way, change the subject programme requirements or the other subject promotion requirements for the Senior Phase.

12. Principals are requested to bring the contents of this minute to the attention of all Grades 7, 8 and 9 teachers.


SIGNED: PAD BEETS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2018:10:17

Annexure A: DBE National Assessment Circular 1 of 2018  (size: 155 KB)