11 failures article
20 April 2007
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education needs to correct some statements
regarding grade 11 failures that were made in an article "Failed pupils pushed
up" published in The Witness of 20 April 2007. We would also like to provide
the information that the reporter chose not to publish, resulting in major
confusion. We regret that no attempt was made to contact the department.
The provincial strategy is in line with the national guidelines that were
issued in November 2006 by the national Department of Education and not by the
provincial head of department, Dr Cassius Lubisi as was stated in the article.
Circular No 12 of 2006, issued by the national department presented two options
to support Grade 11 repeaters of 2007, namely:
Option 1: They can repeat Grade 11 and do the subjects in the National
Curriculum Statement Grades 10 to 12 (the new curriculum).
Option 2: They can enrol at Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET)
centres or at private colleges as part-time candidates with the view to
completing their outstanding Senior Certificate requirements. Learners opting
for this choice will have time until 2011 to complete the outstanding
requirements of the Senior Certificate.
In KwaZulu-Natal 62 000 learners chose option one of repeating grade 11,
with all the changes that accompany the introduction of the new curriculum. An
investigation by the Department found that most learners are not coping with
the new curriculum. Equally some schools cannot provide additional assistance
to these learners.
The department decided to throw a lifeline to these learners going for
option 2, but instead of sending learners to ABET centres and private colleges
� to keep them at school, doing the old curriculum.
Most learners have not failed all six subjects and the repeaters will now be
allowed to register for a maximum of three subjects in which they performed
best in 2006. They will only be allowed to sit for examinations in these
subjects if they obtain a continuous assessment mark of 50% and above.
According to the national guideline the learners have until 2011 to finish all
subjects.
Public school candidates must write a minimum of six subjects to obtain a
matric certificate in 2007. As the repeaters will not be able to do that, they
will enrol as private candidates for their three subjects. To make up for the
work lost, extra classes will be offered, for which educators will be
compensated.
For enquiries, contact:
Christi Naude
Director: Media and Citizen Liaison (Acting)
Cell: 083 262 8829
Issued by: Department of Education, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
20 April 2007
