Grade 9 learners in the Western Cape will write Common Tasks of Assessment (CTAs) in the fourth term of 2009.

The national Department of Education decided in December that Grade 9 learners would write Section A of the assessments during the second term this year.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) told schools of this decision during the first term, said Brian Schreuder, Deputy Director-General: Curriculum Management at the WCED.

"The WCED had not received all the assessments by the end of the first term, and those that were received were not ready for distribution. The WECD therefore told schools that they would not have to start writing the assessments during the second term," Mr Schreuder said.

"We do not want to disrupt internal school planning, and we want schools to have sufficient time to prepare well for them. The WCED has now decided that Grade 9s can write all of the CTAs in the fourth term, as they have done in the past."

"This will give the DoE enough time to ensure that all the CTAs are ready for distribution and that the WCED can print and distribute them in good time."