The Department of Basic Education (DoBE) has decided to postpone the new progression and promotion requirements for schools to 2010.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) will issue a circular to schools on the decision tomorrow (Friday, 28 August 2009). Senior officials have discussed the issue with school principals.

The DoBE has decided to postpone application of the requirements until after a review of the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement.

The department would like to incorporate recommendations of the review into policy before implementing the new progression and promotion requirements.

The new progression requirements cover Grades 1 to 8, while the promotion requirements cover promotion from Grade 9 to 10.

The DoBE has advised that the new progression and promotion requirements will no longer apply in 2009 and will become compulsory in 2010.

Schools must therefore use existing policy published in the Government Gazette in 2007 to assess progression and promotion in the grades concerned.

The WCED expresses regret at any inconvenience caused by the decision. The department asked school communities to use the extra time now available to prepare for the implementation of the new requirements in 2010.

We are determined to assist schools to manage education delivery more effectively and we are committed to ongoing engagements with all concerned to ensure that introductions affecting the school system are announced before the end of September of the year preceding implementation.

Meanwhile, the circular says that Grade 9s will complete the Common Tasks of Assessment in the fourth term.

It also reports that the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) had decided that there is no longer a need for a General Education Certificate in Grade 9, because basic education now covers Grades R to 12. The DoE has therefore cancelled the pilot programme to introduce the GEC.