Back to school: Here are the new opening dates
Schools, for teachers and pupils in the coastal provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape, will reopen on January 10 and 12 respectively.
Teachers in the inland provinces, Gauteng, Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West, will return to school on January 17 while pupils will go back on January 19.
That’s according to the school calendar for 2022.
As matric pupils wait for the release of their results by basic education minister Angie Motshekga on January 20, her spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga clarified misunderstandings about the pass requirements.
He tweeted a fact sheet stating there were frenzied debates over the release of the results.
“Outrage is often expressed that the lowest possible pass mark per subject is 30%. However, what is not fully understood is that no candidate can obtain a National Senior Certificate (NSC) if he or she passes all seven subjects at 30%.”
He said pupils must pass at least three of the seven subjects at 40%.
Mhlanga said arguments were made that raising the 30% threshold to 50%, for example, would improve the education system.
“However, a 2014 ministerial committee, which recommended several changes to the NSC, did not recommend changing the lowest threshold. It is acceptable assessment practice to ensure provision is made for different levels of achievement.”
He said all education systems “have different levels of passes, not just one pass mark”.
In 2020, 62.4% of pupils obtained admission to bachelor and diploma studies.
-TL
In other news – Faith Nketsi’s real age shocks South Africa
Reality TV star Faith Nketsi recently took to her social media pages to share pictures from her birthday. Her followers and fans wished her well though many were a bit shocked and confused after realizing that the TV star looks older than her real age.
Through the reactions from Twitter, it appears many thought Faith Nketsi was at least 30 years old. Learn More
