18 January 2007
There are at least four options to follow by Grade Eleven learners who
failed their examinations last year, according to the Department of Education
(DoE) in Pretoria yesterday.
Recently there have been a variety of media reports on the future of Grade
11 learners who failed at the end of 2006. Planning for these learners has
taken place over the last two years and has been communicated to provinces and
teacher unions.
The options are the following:
* They may repeat Grade 11 at schools doing the new curriculum, with the
same subjects that they have been studying in 2006. If learners have not done
mathematics they will be required to do mathematical literacy. However, it is
not necessary for learners to obtain 30% for Mathematical Literacy, due to the
fact that learners have to obtain the necessary promotion requirements in only
six of the seven required subjects. In addition they will be required to offer
Life Orientation, which is compulsory in the new curriculum. This subject is
internally assessed and schools will determine the standards for the subject.
Schools and teachers have been and will be provided with support for this.
* The second option is for learners to continue with the old curriculum as
part-time candidates with the view to completing their Senior Certificate
requirements. They can enrol for one or more subjects until 2011 to complete
their Senior Certificate.
* The third alternative is for learners to apply to Further Education
Training (FET) Colleges where bursaries are available for vocational
programmes.
* As a fourth option, they may apply for a learnership at a relevant Sector
Education Training Authorities (SETA) where learners will be able to receive
skills and training in the area of their choice.
The Department of Education will continue to provide support to Grade 11
teachers and repeaters in 2007. Teachers have been and will continue to receive
training in order to ensure they have the necessary skills to assist all
learners. In addition schools have been provided with guidelines for teaching
all 29 subjects in the new national curriculum especially with regard to
Mathematics Literacy and Life Orientation.
All schools, learners, provincial and national education officials will take
up the challenge to accommodate and assist the 2006 Grade 11 learners and
ensure ongoing education for them.
For further information, please contact:
Mr Duncan Hindle
Director-General of Education
Cell: 082 575 4133
Issued by: Department of Education
18 January 2007
