Educators get info on new SA National Senior Certificate

1 June 2006

Monash South Africa hosted two Information Sessions on the new South African National Senior Certificate (NSC) on campus last week. The current Grade 10 learners will be the first group to write new NSC in 2008.

From the left: Fikile Luphoko, St Ursula’s School, Nicolene Murdoch, Monash South Africa and Roelien Krynauw, St Ursula's School, Krugersdorp.

Over 60 teachers and principals from 30 senior schools in the greater Johannesburg and Pretoria area attended the sessions where they received information on the latest updates on the new NSC, how is it structured, what subjects will be offered, subjects on the designated list, the new assessment scales and especially how it will affect entrance into the different types of tertiary education.

One of the most notable changes to the curriculum has been the fact that it is now compulsory for learners to take either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy and the new subject Life Orientation for the new NSC. The addition of Life Orientation also means that learners will now have seven subjects instead of six.

From the left: Radha Pillay and Maureen Groch from St Stithians College, Nicolene Murdoch, Monash South Africa, Loredana Borello St Stithians College, Randburg.

Although minimum requirements have been set for entry into certificate, diploma and degree programmes by the Department of Education, institutions of higher learning will still be able to set their own individual requirements for entry into their courses and programmes. In most cases these requirements are still being formulated and have not yet been made public.

Educators who attended the sessions were enthusiastic in their response to the information received. Ms Terry Jeoffreys from Aurora Private School said: “’For the first time I feel like I know where we are going and so can finally advise my learners with confidence.”