Basic Education on implementation of amended senior certificate

The last Senior Certificate examination based on the policy document, A Resume of instructional programmes in schools (Report 550), which allowed learners with incomplete Senior Certificate credits, as well as adult learners of 21 years and older, was conducted in June 2014.

However, based on the need for a qualification for adults that is equivalent to the current National Senior Certificate (NSC), the Minister of Basic Education has approved the revision of the current Senior Certificate qualification such that it can be offered by learners who will have no alternative route to follow post June 2014. The amended Senior Certificate retains its qualification structure but will utilise the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) subjects to support the Qualification. This implies that the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) subjects will be offered as part of the amended Senior Certificate. The first examination based on the amended Senior Certificate will be written in June/July 2015. All Senior Certificate subjects that were passed prior to June 2015, at Higher Grade and Standard Grade levels, excluding Lower Grade conversions, will be recognised.

Admission to the amended Senior Certificate

The following learners will qualify for admission to the amended Senior Certificate:

1. Adult learners who are 21 years and older who have:
   
   1. a General Education and Training Certificate (GETC): or
   2. a Grade 9 school report (or the old standard seven), stating that they have passed Grade 9 or Standard 7; or
   3. a recognised equivalent qualification obtained at NQF Level 1 which requires two official languages.
2. Adult learners who are 21 years and older with an incomplete Senior Certificate qualification.
3. Adult learners who are 21 years and older with an incomplete National Senior Certificate and whose School-Based Assessment (SBA) validity has expired.
4. Only in exceptional cases, out of school youth, who are 18-21 years old and who could not complete their school education due to circumstances beyond their control, as verified by the Head of Department in the Provincial Education Department.

Subjects to be offered

The subjects listed below which are part of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement of the National Senior Certificate, will be offered as part of the amended Senior Certificate. The subjects will in essence be the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements of the National Senior Certificate, excluding the School-Based Assessment (SBA) component. Each candidate must offer six subjects in order to qualify for the amended Senior Certificate. Adults who have approved Senior Certificate subject credits, but do not comply with the required six-subject package, must select the remaining required subjects from the following list of 14 adapted National Senior Certificate subjects:

TABLE A: OFFICIAL LANGUAGES AT HOME AND FIRST ADDITIONAL LEVEL

TABLE B1 : AGRICULTURE

TABLE B2: BUSINESS, COMMERCE AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES

TABLE B3: HUMAN AND SOCIAL STUDIES

TABLE B4: PHYSICAL, MATHEMATICAL, COMPUTER AND LIFE SCIENCES

The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements for the above-listed Senior Certificate subjects are available on the Department of Basic Education's website, www.education.gov.za under CAPS, FET Phase on the Home Page.

Subjects to be recognised

Senior Certificate subjects credits that were passed prior to June 2015, at Higher Grade and Standard Grade levels, excluding Lower Grade conversions, will be recognised.

With the exception of Business English N3. Second Language, and/or Sakeafrikaans N3, Second

Language, no N3 subjects will be recognised.

In the case of learners, who have attempted the National Senior Certificate examination, but were unable to complete all the subject requirements, and have exhausted the three year validity period allowed for the School Based Assessment (SBA), such candidates will have all their previous credits recognised.

Examinations

Candidates that qualify to write the amended Senior Certificate examination will write the examination in June/July 2015. Candidates writing the amended Senior Certificate will be exempt from School Based Assessment, and this implies that the examination in the subject will constitute 100% of the final mark.

Examinations will be administered at designated examination centres determined by the Provincial Education Department. The examination may also be offered by the independent assessment bodies accredited by Umalusi.

Registration for the 2015 Senior Certificate Examination

Adults that qualify to write the 2015 Senior Certificate examination must register for the examination not later than 31 January 2015. Learners may register at any provincial education office which includes the provincial head office, the district office or a circuit office.

Preparation for the 2015 Senior Certificate Examination

Learners that intend to write the 2015 Senior Certificate examination must commence with preparations for the examinations immediately, given that the curriculum is a year programme. Learners may obtain the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) for the relevant subject from the DBE website or the nearest provincial education office. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) will also make available an Examination Guideline, which provides a framework on the structure and format of the examination.

Exemplar question papers based on CAPS are also available on the DBE website.