NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 304
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 01/03/2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 04/2013)
Adv A de W Alberts (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:â
(1) What is the educational theory at the heart of the decision that
matric pupils may fail twice before being promoted
automatically;
(2) how will she ensure that pupils who have failed twice are going
to receive schooling of such quality that they will pass matric
as persons who are ready for the job market;
(3) whether, in the light of how South Africa weighs up against
international standards, she is planning to promote an
appreciation for higher standards in school education; if not,
why not; if so, how does she plan to ensure higher standards in
school education? NW381E
REPLY:
1) This is not something new because since 1998 provision has been made for
repetition of a grade, namely in paragraph 31 of the Admission policy for
ordinary public schools as published as Government Notice 2432 in the
Government Gazette, Vol. 400, No. 19377 of 19 October 1998.
The norm for repetition of a grade is based on the age cohort of the
grade and is one year per phase. This policy was adopted by all provinces
and in some instances codified in law.
Multiple repetition in Grades 10 and 11 must not be used for gate-keeping
purposes. Learners repeating either Grade 10 or 11 must receive the
relevant support to enable him or her to progress with their cohort to
the next grade the following year.
Retaining learners in Grade 11 will not allow them to sit for the
National Senior Certificate examination as a part-time candidate as only
Grade 12 learners may enroll for the final examination. A progression to
Grade 12 will at least allow them an opportunity to complete the
outstanding requirements.
In some cases learners have been retained for three to four years in a
single grade. These learners will leave school with a school report of
the last grade promoted in, with no opportunity to complete a school
leaving certificate. There are cases where a learner has only failed a
compulsory subject, e.g. the Home language, passed all other subjects but
has failed the grade and therefore was retained until the language is
passed.
It is, however, imperative to note that progression to Grade 12 does not
imply that a learner will be issued with a National Senior Certificate at
the end of Grade 12. To obtain a National Senior Certificate which is a
three-year qualification all learners must comply with the certification
requirements as stipulated in policy and regulations.
2) Learners repeating a grade must be offered adequate additional support
in order to achieve an appropriate competence. Teachers must assist the
learners in those subjects which they failed by means of extra classes in
the afternoon. Many schools make use of this method, even for learners
who have passed to enable them to get better results. Parents must be
kept informed on a regular basis on the progress of the repeaters.
3) I am fully committed in maintaining high standards in the South African
school system and has therefore ensured that the National Senior
Certificate is registered as a 130 credit certificate at Level 4 on the
National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and that it must comply, amongst
others with the objectives of the NQF, and where applicable, be
internationally comparable.
The Department of Basic Education is also supported by Umalusi, the
Quality Council for General and Further Education and Training, which
will ensure that the integrity and credibility of the General and Further
Education and Training sub-framework on the NQF is maintained.