9 February 2009
A panel of maths experts has found that maths papers in the 2008 National
Senior Certificate (NSC) exam were up to standard.
Minister Pandor asked a panel of experts to investigate the standard of the
maths papers after there was scepticism at the increase in the number of
successful candidates from 28 000 in 2007 to 63 035 in 2008.
The panel found that learners who scored 50 percent and more in 2008 would
have passed mathematics higher grade with a score of 40 percent or more in the
past.
Arnout Brombacher, chair of the panel, said: "Matriculants who passed maths
50 percent or more can confidently be compared to those who passed maths on the
higher grade in previous years."
However, they found that there was a lack of differentiation at the level of
A and B in the exam. A and B symbols in maths were good predictors of success
in engineering, architecture, and business science.
Notes for editors
The panel was made up of Arnout Brombacher, former head of mathematics at
Westerford High School, Alison Kitto, a member of the ministerial committee on
the design of new curriculum, Khangelani Mdakane, Lwazi Moshequane, who has
been teaching maths for 25 years, Belinda Huntley, maths lecturer at Wits
University, Gugu Moche, and Jenny Campbell, head of maths at Bergvliet school
(2000 to 2008).
Issued by: Ministry of Education
9 February 2009
Source: Ministry of Education (http://www.education.gov.za)
