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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 08 Oct 2008 Title: Grade 12 learners prepared for the final exams -------------------- Its all systems go according to the first group of anxious and excited matriculants to write their final exams under the new National Curriculum Statement (NCS), writes Gabi Khumalo. Approximately 600 000 students across the country's nine provinces will be sitting for their exams which will take place from 29 October to 3 December 2008. Of those interviewed by BuaNews on Wednesday, most schools and learners said they were prepared for the big day but did not want to predict or set target for pass rate. Under the new curriculum, all exams will be set at a national level, unlike the old curriculum, where learners wrote their exams with the option of Higher or Standard Grade. This caters for the diverse abilities of candidates and based on their performance, candidates will then be graded on a scale of one to seven. The results of these exams will be a good measure of the effectiveness of the new curriculum. The NCS, which replaces the old Senior Certificate, significantly raises the bar in terms of its cognitive demand and caters for 29 subjects. Some of the subjects include Information Technology, Computer Application, Life Sciences and different languages such as French, Zulu, Hindi and German among others. Mathematics or Maths Literacy is now a compulsory subject as well as Life Orientation. Director General in the Department of Education, Duncan Hindle said in preparing the learners for the exams, the annual subject advisor and teacher training programmes, coupled with the development of learning programme guidelines and subject assessment guidelines for Grades 10 to 12, had been key investments in providing a solid foundation for learners. "The development of examination exemplars for Grades 10, 11 and 12 by the department's examination panel, study mate for Grades 10, 11 and 12 as well as Maths textbooks, which were distributed to schools, communities and placed in newspapers had also contributed to the preparations for the exams," Me Hindle said. Deputy Principal at Confidence College in Pretoria, Frederick Ndou said teachers have done their part to completed the syllabus to make sure learners are well prepared for the coming exams. "We always hope for the best but the honour is with the learners, I'll like to have the best results but don't want to set a target," Mr Ndou told BuaNews. Mr Ndou, who teached Life Science, said the school did not close for Grade 12 during the winter holidays to give the pupils more time to prepare. "We have gone the extra mile with many enrichment programmes available for our learners like special lessons every Fridays to recap what they've learnt during the week." Mr Ndou said it was now up to the pupils to study hard and make the most of the opportunity presented to them. "Teachers have done their part in parting the knowledge and skills, it is no longer up to us but the learners," he said. Berea Park Primary and High School Principal, Izak Theron told BuaNews his school had completed the syllabus, but had concerns about the readiness of the pupils. However, Mr Theron said although the trial exams went well, he was not expecting more than a 50 percent pass rate. This was due to most of the learners had only joined the school after the first quarter, having come from outside schools, and were behind with their studies. "We are worried about those individuals, however we are confident with those learners who have been with the school since Grade 8," Mr Theron told BuaNews. He said the teachers had tried their utmost to prepare the pupils. Grade 12 learner from Berea Park Primary and High School, Tsholofelo Zietsman said she was prepared for the exams but a bit nervous. "You can't go to the exams without being nervous," she said, adding that she was hoping to get As for all her subjects including, Accounting, Economics and Business Economics. Tsholofelo said since the beginning of the year, learners from the school have formed a study group helping each other in Maths, which resulted in her getting good results during the trial exams. This was because the future depended on successful matriculants now. She told BuaNews that she would enrol at the Wits University and complete a BCom Degree in Accounting Science. Her school mate Athenkosi Matika told BuaNews the only subject he would try to push hard on was Afrikaans. "I don't have a problem with all other subject because I know I'll do well," he said. He told BuaNews that he would be enrolling at the University of Cape Town and plans on studying Actuarial Science. Tsholofelo and Athenkosi encouraged matriculants to go to the exams with an open mind and not to be scared. This year the release of the results will see a change to past procedures, according to the Council of Education Ministers meeting in Pretoria on Monday. All results will be first checked by school principals before they are released by the school to its own candidates. Thereafter, on 30 December results will be published in newspapers, and the minister will make an official statement on the overall results, followed by provincial media conferences hosted by MECs to announce the results of their respective provinces. - BuaNews |
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