Pretoria - Formal hearings for KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape grade 12 candidates implicated in group copying have been delayed because the candidates were busy writing supplementary examinations.
Chief Director for Public Examinations and Assessments at the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Dr Rufus Poliah, on Tuesday said formal hearings for the implicated matriculants would commence in the middle of March and invigilators would appear thereafter.
Poliah was doing a presentation when the DBE briefed the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on progress made regarding three key issues affecting the sector -- the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, scholar transport and preparations for School Governing Body (SGB) elections.
He also told the committee that the DBE had taken steps to improve the examination system and that new measures would be introduced this year.
Umalusi CEO Dr Mafu Rakometsi told the committee that despite group copying in KZN and the Eastern Cape and other challenges that remain, the assurance body was pleased with the manner in which the 2014 NSC examinations were administered.
The DBE said Umalusi expressed appreciation to all the relevant stakeholders, including whistle blowers who are striving to ensure that credibility and the integrity of the examinations are not compromised.
NSC exams
Chief Director for Curriculum Implementation, Suren Govender, told the committee that the department had undertaken curriculum interventions.
Govender said interventions arise from the analysis of the NSC 2014 results, seeing that it was the first time learners sat for an exam in the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS)-aligned curriculum.
He said learner support would become the key focus this time around, starting at early childhood development to grade 12.
He said the National Strategy for Learner Attainment (NSLA) focused on the nature of the support for the learners in a particular phase.
Scholar transport
The DBE said it collaborated with the Transport Department to develop a Draft Learner Transport Policy through a consultative process, which was approved by the Ministers of both departments.
“It was approved for public comment and the closing date was 3 December 2014. An interdepartmental committee was established to analyse and effect the comments,” the department said.
Key policy areas include the location of the learner transport function (whether it is transport departments in provinces or education departments), learner transport planning where both departments are responsible, learner safety and security as well as criteria for learner transport beneficiaries.
School Governing Body elections
The DBE said it is ready to administer the elections for SGB members, which will get underway between 6 and 28 March in more than 24 000 schools across the country. The department urges parents to participate in the elections. - SAnews.gov.za
