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The government has instructed South African schools to award students in grades 4-9 up to 5% higher grades for up to three subjects if this helps them pass the 2020 academic year.
This is an increase from the additional 2% that was available to students in grades 7-9 in 2019, and this change is attributed to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grade adjustments and waivers are used as special waivers to offset potential high student retention in an academic year, said Hubert Mathanzima Mweli, Director General of the Department of Basic Education.
“In 2020, due to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and related learning losses experienced in grades 4-9, the application of these special dispensations continues.”
The circular sent to the schools by the government establishes that a 5% grade adjustment is allowed in a maximum of three subjects and, subsequently, an additional forgiveness in Mathematics must be applied.
This requires students who have passed except for their math grade to be able to proceed to the next grade in 2021 through a “waived” pass.
This is regardless of the grade they receive in math, Mweli confirmed.
Mweli also noted that ninth graders who are tolerated and scoring less than 30% in math should still be able to take math in tenth grade.
“As in 2019, there is no restriction on choosing only Math Literacy as a result of the Math waiver,” Mweli said.
Condoned students must have their math grade indicated on their grading schedule, and the letter “C” will be present next to the mark to show that the grade was passed.
In addition, the student’s report will indicate:
“The math grade has been approved and the student is promoted to the next grade.”
Reply
Senior associate researcher at UJ, Professor Mary Metcalfe supported the decision of the Department of Basic Education.
“We need to recognize that the recovery of learning from lost learning time in 2020 will take place over several years,” Metcalfe said.
“Students need to be supported over time in an educational environment that minimizes stress and takes into account the very different settings in which learning was possible, or impossible, at home.”
He also believes that teachers must have the flexibility to make the best decision regarding student discharge.
“[They] they are in the best position to judge whether the next grade’s learning context will support them, ”said Metcalfe.
However, UCT education professor Ursula Hoadley said Times Live that the decision is illogical as schools have already taken steps to address the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The reason given is to make up for learning losses, but schools were already required to address this by evaluating only what was taught (which in most schools was a very small proportion of the normal curriculum) and having a proportion much higher than the grade assigned to school assessments (as opposed to tests), ”Hoadley explained.
He said that because of this decision, many more students are likely to pass than last year, resulting in overcrowded classes.
“It is also going to generate a much greater heterogeneity in the classes, which will make the teachers’ work much more difficult, especially in trying to reach the number of students with little preparation in their classrooms that, in a normal year, could have stayed in the previous grade. Hoadley said.
Western Cape Education Department (WCED) Minister Debbie Schafer told My Broadband that she believes this decision is reasonable considering the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on students.
“However, it should only be for this year, and measures should be put in place next year to catch up,” Schafer said.
“WCED is currently collaborating with DBE to clarify a number of assessment issues prior to providing guidance to our schools.”
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