The department wishes to remind all grade 12 learners and their parents how important this time is as they count down the school year before the beginning of their national senior certificate exams.
Given the extended school holiday period and in order to enable learners to achieve their full potential, all provinces have set in place a number of programmes during the five week June to July vacation period.
These programmes are focussed on preparing matriculants for the final examinations at the end of the year. Provinces are offering a variety of interventions for matriculants including help lines staffed by subject experts, winter schools or camps for learners across districts.
All provinces are particularly targeting underperforming schools and districts. Additional classes will be offered in all provinces and some have planned for additional Saturday classes and classes in the September break.
Learners are also urged to take responsibility for organising and planning the rest of their own preparations and revision with the support and guidance of schools, teachers, tutors and subject experts.
Learners are encouraged to make use of this time fruitfully and to make the most of the academic support programmes offered by all the provinces.
On a practical level, learners should access the national senior certificate examination timetable at: http://www.education.gov.za, if they have not done so already and to formulate their own revision timetables that will enable them to cover all their subjects.
It is important that all learners set themselves goals. Principals, teachers and parents can and will offer support to learners, but it is important that young people accept that they must play an active role in their own education.
The majority of learners are determined to achieve academic success. This however requires self discipline, regular school attendance, paying attention in class and doing regular homework and revision.
The department also urges all grade 12 learners to plan for the years to follow. Many young people complain that they do not know about the career options they can follow after school.
If grade 12 learners have not yet made a decision regarding their future, they need to find out about options available for them to enter further study, whether at Further Education and Training (FET) or higher education level, and about career and employment opportunities on leaving school.
Learners must seek advice from their schools or contact the closest Further Education and Training College or higher education institution in their province. Information is available and accessible.
South African learners sometimes believe that in order to access further education opportunities funding must be sought first. Learners are urged to explore all funding opportunities and the procedures by which they can access the National Student Financial Aid Scheme otherwise known as National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
It is very important that they do not wait for their matric results before applying to further education and training colleges or universities. They should apply as soon as possible. Students seldom access funding without first obtaining a place to study.
Opportunities have expanded for young people. An informed and empowered cohort of learners who have the skills to make career decisions will certainly improve the skills profile of the overall population and improve mobility between different levels of education and between education and the world of work.
The department also urges young women to go into science, technology and engineering fields of study and work given the low numbers of women in these fields in general.
Many young people have the potential to become excellent teachers. The department has a bursary scheme for future teachers called the Funza Lushaka bursary scheme that would enable them to access funding to train as teachers.
Parents and care givers are encouraged to contact their children's schools so that they are informed of what holiday programmes are being conducted and additional classes during the third term and September vacations, both for matriculants and other learners in senior grades.
The Department of Basic Education wishes all grade 12 learners well over the next 115 days as they prepare for their national senior certificate examinations.
Enquiries:
Granville Whittle
Cell: 072 148 9575
Source: Department of Education
