Minister Grant: Schools and Parents Must Ensure No Teaching and Learning Time is Lost | Western Cape Government

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Minister Grant: Schools and Parents Must Ensure No Teaching and Learning Time is Lost

31 May 2011

Statement by the Western Cape Education Minister, Donald Grant

Next week, most of the province's high schools will begin their internal June examinations.

I would like to extend my best wishes to each and every learner during this period.

Our thoughts are especially with our Grade 12 learners. Over 41 000 Grade 12 learners will begin writing next week. These examinations are particularly important for them as they will determine their levels of academic performance for the year so far, as well as provide them with the opportunity to learn more about the standards required for their final National Senior Certificate Examinations.

Learners who do find that they are struggling in certain subject areas should not be discouraged. There are 136 days to go before the start of the NSC examinations. If they use this time optimally, concentrating specifically on the difficult learning areas, they have every chance to succeed.

They can be assured that the WCED is doing all it can to help them improve in all subject areas. Learners are encouraged to enquire at their school what programmes are available during the June/July holidays, to join holiday study groups or consult their "tips for success" booklets for further studying advice and planning materials. (Media - a statement on the holiday programmes will be made available at a later date).

One of our primary concerns now though is the disruption of teaching and learning time during and after the examination period. In previous years, the department received numerous reports of learners leaving school early, or being given permission to stay at home to study.

I would like to make it clear that this is not the policy of the department.

It is the responsibility of the parents to ensure that their children attend school right up until the last day of the school term - the 24th of June.

Parents must be aware that schools may not inform learners that it is their decision whether to come to school when they are not writing tests or examinations.

All learners are required to attend school throughout the examination period. This includes Grade 12 learners. Grade 12 learners are entitled to five days of study only before the start of the final National Senior Certificate examinations, and not the June examinations.

All learners are also required to attend school after the examination period has ended.

Educators are expected to be at school for the full school day (35 hours per week), irrespective of whether they have invigilation duties or not.

The protection of teaching and learning time is important to this government and the department will be monitoring the implementation of this policy very closely.

Media Enquiries: 

Bronagh Casey
Spokesperson
Cell: 072 724 1422
Tel: 021 467 2377