The Department of Basic Education urges all candidates who wrote the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in 2010 and who meet the requirements to qualify for supplementary exams, to register as soon as possible at their schools or centres where they sat for their final examinations on or before 24 January 2011.
Learners should consider the opportunity to improve on their performance in particular subjects or to have a chance to rewrite subjects that they failed in the NSC examinations of 2010.
Learners who are eligible to write supplementary examinations are those who meet the minimum promotion and certification requirements in the final examination but need two subjects to obtain their national senior certificate. The 2010 statement of results that they received at school on Thursday, 6 January 2011, will indicate whether or not they are eligible to register to write the supplementary examinations. These learners should register as soon as possible at their schools or centres where they sat for their final examinations before or on 24 January 2011.
Other candidates who are eligible to write include the following:
- Those who can prove that they were medically unfit to sit one or more of their final examinations.
- Those who can provide documentary proof of a death in their immediate family, or other special reasons for their absence.
- Those that can provide documentary evidence that they qualified for admission to a higher education institution but were one requirement short of satisfying the requirements.
- Those that can provide the head of the assessment body with a written report from their school principal on reasons other than illness or injury that rendered them unable to write one or more of their examinations.
- Those who were waiting the finalisation of an investigation into an irregularity.
- These learners should register at the district or regional office serving their school before 24 January 2011.
Candidates could also use the option of applying to have their exam scripts remarked at a cost of R70 or rechecked for R12. They can also view their examination scripts at a cost of R150 per examination.
If candidates meet the requirements, they should download the supplementary examination timetable at http:///www.education.gov.za and begin their preparations now. The department has also made available the NSC past examination papers and study guides and provinces will be offering support programmes.
Those who have not succeeded in their examinations and who do not qualify for supplementaries must re-enrol at school without delay as long as they meet the age requirement which is under 21. This will give them a second chance at writing their Grade 12 NSC. With additional effort, they will succeed. Grade 12 learners who failed and who are over 21 should register as private candidates or enrol at Adult Education Centres. Participation in programmes at these centres is free and is available for young people and adults who have not completed their schooling.
The Class of 2010 has completed at least twelve years of schooling that has been at considerable cost to themselves, their parents, family and the country. These young people should not give up now, but should take responsibility to make use of every opportunity available to them to improve their life chances. They should therefore take advantage of all the options our department has made available and all the practical assistance that the provincial departments are also offering.
In addition they could explore other options that are vocational. There are 50 Further Education and Training Colleges spread across all provinces of South Africa comprising of over 240 campuses or teaching sites. Public Further Education and Training (FET) colleges offer vocational training courses and qualifications at various levels of study for learners who have a Grade 9 pass/certificate, an NQF level 1 qualification or a Grade 12 certificate.
FET Colleges also offer courses (the NATED or ‘N’ Courses) which, combined with practical work, lead to a qualification as an artisan in a wide variety of desperately needed skills. Examples include trades such as plumber, electrician, motor mechanic, fitter and turner, carpenter, boilermaker, welder and many others. Not every college offers all the possible courses and so more information should be sought from the colleges themselves.
Learners who require additional information on the offerings of Public FET colleges and the location of FET college campuses across the country should contact the Department of Higher Education and Training call centre on 080 087 2222 or (012) 312 5878. They can also get information on the Career Advice website (http://www.careerhelp.org.za) where contact details and addresses of colleges and other information is available.
Enquiries
Granville Whittle
Cell: 072 148 9575
Source: Department of Basic Education
