The Department of Basic Education has briefed the Portfolio Committee on the report looking into the promotion requirements for the National Senior Certificate. The report is an outcome of an investigation undertaken by a Task Team established by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga following concerns around the NSC certificate. 

The Deputy Minister Enver Surty led a team of senior officials who delivered a presentation detailing the work of the Task Team, their findings and recommendations as well as the Department's response to the proposed changes.

Deputy Minister Surty told the committee that the Minister broadly supported the recommendations as they are consistent with the trajectory that the Department envisages for the medium to long term improvements in the standard NSC. He said the Department had already commenced with the implementation of a few recommendations and others will be implemented in the short to medium term.

The Chief Director for Public Examinations and Assessments Dr Rufus Poliah told the Portfolio Committee members that the certificate has become the most important qualification as it captures the performance of a learner over a 12-year period.

"The 30% pass requirement was one of a small component of the pass requirements and it does not encapsulate the standard of NSC. No learner can pass NSC if you pass all your subjects at 30% you need at least three 30s and three 40s in order to pass. We have tried to explain this but the criticism continued which lead the Minister to establish the Task Team comprising eminent persons", he said.

Dr Poliah said that the NSC reflected an equivalent if not higher standard in certain aspects to the old Senior Certificate and that the requirements for admission to Bachelor studies were higher in the NSC than the old SC given that a candidate has to obtain a pass in four subjects at 50%.

Some of the key recommendations include the retention of Mathematics Literacy and Mathematics but that a communications campaign needs to be done to explain the difference between the two subjects. 

Acting Deputy Director General for Curriculum Policy and Implementation Matanzima Mweli said the Department has been providing science kits to schools with no science laboratories. This to ensure that concepts are not only dealt with in theory but also in practice. He said in terms of providing libraries the department had moved from centralized libraries to classroom where the learners are especially at primary schools.

He said the country should focus on the objectives of the curriculum and not the numbers as a way of assessing the performance of the education system.

The Department is currently in the process of planning the policy and organizational changes that must happen before recommendations with far reaching implications are implemented.

The report of the Task Team would be discussed at the meeting of Council of Education Ministers (CEM) where a way forward would be decided.

Enquiries: Elijah Mhlanga – 083 580 8275

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION