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7 Oct 2010

The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) held an ordinary meeting on 7 October 2010 in Pretoria.

Council agreed as follows: 

Readiness for the National Senior Certificate Examinations in 2010

All provincial departments reported that the necessary administrative systems have been put in place to ensure the smooth running of the 2010 National Senior Certificate examinations. The Grade 12 examinations will commence on 25 October 2010 and 642 691 learners have registered to sit for the examinations. CEM called on all education stakeholders to continue to provide dedicated support to all our learners as we countdown to the start of the examinations. CEM extended its best wishes to all Grade 12 learners.

Annual National Assessments

CEM reiterated its earlier decision to postpone the Annual National Assessments (ANA), which were scheduled to be written in November 2010 in Grades 3, 6 and 9, to February 2010. The Department will make available exemplars of the literacy and numeracy tests to all schools in preparation for the ANAs in due course.

Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS)

CEM agreed to an adjusted timetable for the implementation of the CAPS. The CAPS are intended to provide teachers with a single curriculum document per subject per phase. These documents are based on the existing curriculum, but in all cases provide greater specification of subject content.  

CEM agreed that 2011 will be utilised to prepare for full implementation in 2012.

The following activities will be completed during 2011:

• The CAPS will be revised, taking all public comments into account
• The translation, production and distribution to schools will be completed
• All teachers will be adequately oriented for the introduction of the CAPS and
• The necessary Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSMs), including textbooks, will be prepared to support the introduction of the CAPS.

Workbooks

CEM noted a report on the progress of the development of the workbooks. The aim of this initiative is to provide learners in grades 1-6 with workbooks in literacy/languages and numeracy/mathematics in all official languages. The workbooks will provide age appropriate activities for learners; offer learners the opportunity to experience acquisition and application of skills in a systematic way; model good practice thus guiding teachers to improve their teaching; provide a variety of activities to reinforce literacy and numeracy skills and concepts; and help teachers to monitor learners’ performance against a set of key assessment standards. The workbooks will not replace textbooks or reading books, but are intended as an additional aid for teachers.  

The workbooks will be provided in two volumes. Volume 1 will be distributed by early January. Volume 2 will be distributed in mid-year.

Promotion requirements for Grades 1 to 9

CEM approved the publication of a national policy on the promotion and progression of learners in grades 1-9 for public comment. There is currently no national policy in place in this regard as the current policy stipulates progression based on age cohort. CEM also approved a seven level rating scale to provide clear standards or benchmarks for making judgments on learner performance. 

Enquiries:
Hope Mokgatlhe
Spokesperson for the Minister of Basic Education
Cell: 071 680 6849

Source: Department of Basic Education

Issued by: Department of Basic Education
7 Oct 2010

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