Media Release
Minister of Education Donald Grant
Western Cape

3 January, 2013

Today is a celebration for many candidates, schools and educators

Statement by Minister Donald Grant, Minister of Education, Western Cape

This morning over 44 000 young people from the Western Cape will receive their individual National Senior Certificate (NSC) results.

Given the quality of results we received yesterday, I am sure there will be many pleased candidates. For those candidates that did not receive their desired results there are other options available to them. (Details on this later in the statement)

Today, however, will be a celebration for many candidates including our schools and educators.

One such school will be Groenvlei Secondary in Hanover Park which has substantially increased their results from 65.7% in 2011 to 90.4% in 2012, almost doubling the number of passes achieved from 65 to 104 passes. Congratulations to Mr. Adonis and his educator team. We are very proud of their achievements.

Another school that has done particularly well, especially in terms of number of passes, is Sinethemba Secondary in Phillipi. The school had in the past been classified as an underperforming school, but with hard work and determination, the school has significantly and steadily improved their results over the last four years. In 2009, it had achieved a pass rate of 46.4%, 52.7% in 2010, 78% in 2011 and now 86.1% in 2012. They achieved 199 passes.

On the topic of former underperforming schools, I am delighted that we have managed to reduce the number of underperforming schools from 30 in 2011 to 26 in 2012.

One school that improved their results is Iingcinga Zethu Sec in Witzenberg. The school improved its pass rate from 51.2% in 2011 to 73% in 2012. Another school, Rosendaal Secondary in Delft went from 50.5% to 83.1%.

As mentioned yesterday, overall, we are pleased with our results. This year's NSC results have confirmed that the system is qualitatively getting better and I believe that further improvements can and will be achieved in the years to come.

I acknowledge that there is still much to be done to improve education in this province and we will continue to look at how we can best support our schools and learners and achieve far-reaching systemic change.

But today is about celebrating the success of candidates and schools. I would again like to appeal to all candidates to celebrate responsibly.

Supplementary examinations and remarks:

For those who have not achieved their desired results, there are other options available to you.

Candidates can qualify to write supplementary exams if:

  • They failed a maximum of up to two subjects. They do not qualify if they failed more than two subjects.

  • Candidates who missed an exam because they were sick or medically unfit at the time, can apply to write the relevant supplementary exams, if they provide a medical certificate and supporting documents.

These candidates are only one or two subjects away from completing their NSC, and we strongly encourage all those candidates who qualify to write the supplementary examinations to register for these examinations.

Applications for supplementary exams close on the 21st of Jan. The Supplementary Examinations will be written in February and March.

Candidates can also apply to have their scripts re-marked for subjects they have failed or where they did not obtain the results they needed for specific purposes - for example - to obtain a bursary or satisfy university requirements.

Candidates must include a motivation with their application for a remark. The WCED will not consider applications without this motivation.

The department will also consider applications for re-marking of scripts if there is a difference of at least two levels of achievement between marks awarded by the school in the September examinations and the 2011 NSC results.

The fee for re-marking of scripts is R73 per subject.

The WCED will refund re-marking if the candidate passes the subject in which they initially failed, or is awarded marks that improve the result in a subject by at least one level of achievement. Candidates must therefore keep their receipts in case their results change.

The closing date for applications for re-marking is the 21st of January.

For any enquiries on the supplementary exams or re-marking process, candidates can visit the Client Service Centre of the WCED on the 2nd floor of the Grand Central Building in Lower Parliament Street, Cape Town.

They can also contact our exams helpline on 021 4672300 on weekdays between 08h00 and 16h00 on examination related issues until the 31 January 2012.

Application forms for re-marking can be requested from the following email addresses: Nompumelelo.Kanase@westerncape.gov.za, Mercia.Buys@westerncape.gov.za and Steve.Valentyne@westerncape.gov.za

We also encourage candidates who failed to enroll in Grade 12 in 2013.

Candidates that need counseling and support can contact our toll free support number on 080045 46 47.


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