1. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) in collaboration with all the provincial education departments, will again organise, manage and monitor the 2018 South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE).

2. The 2018 competition has been redesigned to be more inclusive and makes provision for school choirs in the following categories:

Primary schools
Infants (Grades R–2)
Foundation phase (Grades 3–4)
Intermediate phase (Grades 5–7)
Farm schools

Secondary schools
Secondary A
Schools that have consistently performed well during the last four years in the five approved categories (i.e. mixed choirs, African, Afrikaans, Western and male and female choirs).
Secondary B
Schools participating for the first time and those schools that have participated in the programme but have not reached national level.
Open category
For both the above categories to select whatever they find suitable.

Please refer to the "2018 Participation Rules" for the prescribed music and criteria for participation. The principal and conductor must read and familiarise themselves with these rules. Schools not adhering to the rules are immediately disqualified and will not be permitted to participate in SASCE for the next five years. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will monitor all district and provincial events to ensure that schools adhere to participation rules.

3. Foundation phase choirs will only participate in the district eisteddfod. They will not participate in the provincial and national chapters of the competition.

4. Music pieces have been prescribed for all sections. The participation rules and 2018 music scores can be downloaded from the DBE website at: http://www.thutong.doe.gov.za/Default.aspx?alias=www.thutong.doe.gov.za/schoolenrichment. You may also contact your district office for assistance with the music or participation rules.

5. To enter the competition, schools must complete the registration form and return it to the official responsible for school enrichment at their district office.

6. Conductors and principals of schools that register will be invited to district workshops to familiarise themselves with the prescribed music and participation rules.

7. District and provincial elimination rounds will be held between May and June 2018, respectively.

8. Schools will only be invited to proceed to the next stage if their performance has been scored on level 3 (65%) and above by the adjudicators.

9. Participation at provincial and national level is strictly by invitation.

10. Principals and school management teams must ensure that choir rehearsals do not interfere with the school’s academic programme and contact time. With this in mind, it is imperative that conductors do not request learners to attend choir practice during teaching time.

11. Schools participating in all SASCE events must make their own travelling and accommodation arrangements. The WCED will subsidise travelling and accommodation as follows:
11.1 Schools travelling more than 200 km (return) will be subsidised to a maximum amount of R3 000 per school for district and provincial rounds.
11.2 School travelling more than 700 km (return) will be subsidised to a maximum of R5 000 per school for district and provincial rounds.
11.3 Schools invited to participate in the national event will be subsidised to a maximum amount of R40 000 (forty thousand rand) for a full choir of 60 learners for transport.
11.4 Accommodation for attending the provincial rounds will be subsidised at R100 per learner per night.
11.5 Accommodation for participation in the national event will be subsidised to the amount of R150 per person per night.

These subsidies will be paid on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the district and must be submitted to Head Office at least three weeks before the event.

12. Please bring the contents of this minute to the attention of the learners, conductors, educators and parents.


SIGNED: TS MATSELISO
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: INSTITUTION DEVELOPMENT & CO-ORDINATION
DATE: 2018:05:29

Contact details of district officials  (size: 57 KB)