7 subjects for new matric
2005-05-26 08:42
Pretoria - Grade 10 to 12 pupils who will start on the new curriculum for further education and training (FET) next year, will have to take at least seven subjects, which they can pass on a seven-point scale.
The guidelines for the new policy were published in the Government Gazette on Tuesday for comment.
Education experts pointed out strengths and weaknesses of the new curriculum on Wednesday.
The relaxation of subject choices that pupils have to take was welcomed. It was suggested earlier that candidates had to take two core subjects for the same learning area on top of the four compulsory subjects.
The new recommendation suggests that a candidate selects any three subjects alongside the compulsory two languages, maths or mathematical literacy, and life orientation.
Concerns were expressed over the agriculture and technology subjects for which no policy documents have been drawn up yet.
The problem is that schools cannot decide whether they can or want to present these subjects next year because they do not know what the content of the subjects will entail.
Seven hours
They also cannot start advising pupils about these subjects. According to the recommendations, pupils will be orientated in these subjects next year.
As far as skills subjects go, provision was made for a candidate to achieve one of the following categories: Excellent (80%-100%), deserving (70%-79%), substantial (60%-69%), average (50%-59%), satisfactory (40%-49%), basic (30-39%), and not-attained (0%-29%).
In 2008, the first group of Grade 12 pupils will qualify for the new FET certificate. Portfolio work and continuous assessment will make up 25% of the final mark and an external exam 75%.
Each school day will be at least seven hours long to make up 35 hours a week. Contact-education a week must be 27.5 hours, of which 9 hours must be spent on languages, 4.5 on maths of mathematical literacy and two hours on life orientation. Twelve hours must be set side for the three additional subjects.
As far as interim arrangements are concerned, pupils with mathematic literacy will not be required to achieve the basic pass rate (30% - 39%) to qualify for the certificate until such time as the minister has made a decision. They still have to achieve at least 25%.