Here’s what you need to know about plans to roll out a new certificate for pupils after grade 9

“This will provide further learning on how to strengthen the quality of the assessment tools, their infusion into school-based assessment and how to generate a holistic GEC report card for pupils.”

The number of participating schools will represent all 75 education districts with further upscaling planned for 2024. In 2025, all schools are expected to participate in the GEC at the grade 9 level.

Grade 9 certificate not an exit from school

The department said the introduction of a GEC does not mean pupils could leave school after completing grade 9.

The GEC at the end of grade 9 acknowledges a broad foundation of knowledge and skills as a basis for further learning and study, which could happen in a range of further education institutions, it explained.

“Offering a GEC is not an indication of the exit of learners from a learning pathway in schools but provides better decision-making for and access to further learning after grade 9,” it said.

“The GEC will further afford parents an opportunity to obtain a balanced scorecard on their children’s academic performance, with a clear focus on their achieved subject-specific competencies and skills, broader developmental skills, and inclinations and talents.”

The department said it will be able to gather data on repositioning the system towards streaming into academic, vocational or occupational tracks and future career pathing.

“The department is now working with Umalusi to fast-track the registration of GEC as a qualification on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). At this point, the department is engaging the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) on the design of assessment components.”

Source: TimesLive