Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 03-07-2017
The Department of Basic Education says reports regarding the minimum promotion requirements in the schooling system are misleading and has sought to clarify the facts.
Last week it was reported Learners in grade 11 and 12 may need very little to get promoted after the Basic Education announced it is considering lowering the requirement to pass the school year.
The department says the Task Team established by the Minister of Education in 2009, to investigate poor curriculum implementation in schools recommended, among other things, changes to the programme and promotion requirements, in the Foundation, Intermediate and Senior Phase.
In a statement the department’s Elijah Mhlanga says it has been monitoring the implementation of the new requirements in provinces and was apparent from the 2014 mid-year performance, that the new promotion requirements were adversely affecting the performance of learners at school level.
“To minimise the impact of the higher promotion requirements in the Senior Phase, the DBE issued National Assessment Circular to allow for the adjustment of marks and in 2016, given the adverse impact of the compulsory pass requirement of Mathematics at 40%, a special condonation dispensation for Mathematics was applied. “
Mhlanga says the new promotion requirements are not aligned with the National Senior Certificate (NSC) promotion requirements, which is the national benchmark and there is a need to align the promotion requirements across the Foundation, Intermediate and Senior Phase with the FET band.
He says the Department will embark on a broad consultation process with educationists, assessment experts, higher education institutions, parents and members of the public, on the amendments to the Foundation, Intermediate and Senior Phase promotion requirements.
The proposal that will be consulted relating to the Senior Phase, include the following:
- Pass four subjects at 40%, one of which is a Home Language
- Pass any other four subjects at 30%
- Mathematics removed as a compulsory promotion requirement.
Mhlanga says once the proposal has been approved and promulgated the relevant policy and curriculum changes will be communicated to all relevant stakeholder bodies by means of official curriculum and examination circulars.
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