The Department of Education has introduced a general education certificate that may soon allow grade 9 to be an exit point for schooling. The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, announced the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union’s (SADTU) framework draft at the Nasrec Expo Centre on Thursday.
“We plan to launch a systemic evaluation that will be conducted in strategic grades by finalising preparations and technical standards for the administration of systemic evaluation to enable high level national and provincial monitoring,” Minister Motshekga said.
The department plans to decolonize basic education by using learners’ home language as the medium of instruction. An emphasis will also be placed on South African history as well the history from other African countries.
The department aims to eliminate the digital divide by ensuring that all education offices have access to the internet and free data.
Angie Motshekga added, “The first cycle of systemic evaluations in grades 3, 6 and 9 will be finalised by June 2020. The field trial for the general education certificate at the end of Grade 9 is scheduled for completion at the end of July 2020.”
