Latest news with #NationalSeniorCertificate
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
R500 million contract for North West matric papers sparks controversy
Bank notes of R200 denomination The North West department of education says the annual contract for the printing and transportation of examination papers will cost R100 million annually and the contract was awarded to joint venture Lebone Altron DSV Consortium. Image: File Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has amplified concerns about the R500 million contract for the printing and delivering of National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination papers in the North West province. Weekend newspaper reports stated that the five-year contract with joint venture Lebone Altron DSV Consortium will cost the North West province R128 million annually. On the other hand, the North West department of education has disputed the City Press reports, insisting that the five-year contract will cost the provincial authorities around R100 million annually. Speaking to IOL, Makaneta who is the director of the Foundation for Education and Social Justice Africa said the contract was 'too costly'. 'Spending R500 million on a contract for printing and delivering examination papers is very costly. While it is important to keep papers safe, this huge expenditure raises serious concerns about priorities and transparency. We still have shortages of textbooks and poor infrastructure,' said Makaneta. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. 'The North West department of education should disclose details of the contract with specific reference to a breakdown of costs, and public engagement on alternatives. Outsourcing must not come at the cost of accountability.' Outspoken education activist Hendrick Makaneta spoke to IOL Image: Supplied Makaneta said the South African population deserves to know how learners will benefit from this whole process. In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, acting North West deputy director general for exams and curriculum, David Moroeng said the contract extends beyond the printing of examination papers. 'The contract that we have entered into is not only a contract for printing but it is a contract of what we call end-to-end, where we prepare question papers, we print and they are picked up and packaged. Once they are prepared (the question papers), they are going to be stored and then to the different storage points in the province under a secured environment,' he said. 'The previous service provider, that was two to three years ago, it was GPW (Government Printing Works) and we left GPW because we had a one-year SLA (service level agreement) that we had with them. We moved away and started looking for a new service provider.' Moroeng said for the past two years, the North West provincial department was being hosted by their colleagues - the Gauteng department of education. 'We moved now, starting with our own tender process and we advertised, after advertising we got Lebone Litho consortium and also Altron DSV taking the bid,' he said. Moroeng said the GPW contract was ranging around R27 million to 29 million but it was limited to printing. 'When we left GPW two years ago, we started paying around R80 million to R90 million in terms of printing. This year, when we started the new contract, we have added some new features that were not there, that is secured printing, secured transportation of the question papers within the province,' he said. As part of the added services, Moroeng said the new service provider is mandated to transport answer books to the different marking venues across the province.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
New appointments at PS Secondary
An exciting week unfolded at Port Shepstone Secondary with the announcement of promotion posts. Charmaine Joseph, a seasoned geography teacher, began her career in Durban in 1988 and in 1992 she returned to her alma mater, but this time as a teacher. Since 2013, she served as departmental head for Social Sciences and Skills and was promoted to deputy principal this month. Her flair for the subject and passion for her career have remained undiminished over 37 years of valued teaching. Aside from her experience and her industrious nature, she has always strived to keep the school flag flying high. In addition to her scholastic credits she has been identified as a lead teacher in the Ugu District, is a national moderator for DBE SBA and is an investigator on the National Senior Certificate examination irregularity panel. Denish Ramarak Latchman, a teacher knowledgeable in his field of study, began teaching in 2007. He was transferred to the school in 2015. This month his sound work ethic and valuable traits as a leader earned him the promotion as departmental head for Commerce and Life Orientation. The annual IsiZulu Speech Contest took place last week. The school is proud of all learners from Grades 8 to 12 who participated. The team headed by Mandisa Mhlongo ensured that the contest was of a high standard and left the adjudicators impressed. HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
News24
15-05-2025
- General
- News24
6 ways to help kids navigate subject selection in Grade 9
It's important to let kids choose subjects tailored to their strengths and interests. Help them find a balanced combination and factor in job trends. An education expert suggests attending university open days. _____________________________________________________________________ A big decision is on the horizon for Grade 9 learners - their subject choices that they will stick by from Grade 10 to matric. This choice is a key step in shaping their academic journey and future career possibilities. While it can be overwhelming, it's an opportunity to help your children set themselves up for success. Making a decision on subjects that could determine the trajectory of the rest of your child's school career and their possible career journey can be quite daunting, especially for a child of only 14 or 15 years old. As parents, it's so important to not only emphasise how this decision will impact your kids' school performance down the line but to also give them time and grace to do the research they need and explore subjects tailored to their interests. Wonga Ntshinga, the ICT senior head of programme at The Independent Institute of Education - South Africa's largest and most accredited private higher education provider, says, 'The subjects you select for Grade 10 to 12 will influence your performance in the National Senior Certificate exams. These choices will also affect your eligibility for further studies and certain career paths. 'The transition from Grade 9 to Grade 10 is significant because your subject combination lays the groundwork for your future academic and professional opportunities. By choosing wisely, you can position yourself for success in matric while maintaining flexibility for your post-school plans.' Wonga helps us break down factors to help your child think about as they choose their subjects for the rest of their school career. Key factors to consider when helping your child choose subjects 1. Play to their strengths and interests Help them narrow down and pick subjects they enjoy and where they naturally perform well. This will keep them motivated, even when the workload increases. If your child is great at problem-solving, subjects like accounting or information technology might suit them. Similarly, if they love storytelling, dramatic arts or English could be a good fit. 2. Keep your options open At this stage, it's completely fair for Grade 9 students to not know what career they'd like to pursue yet. So, encourage them to choose subjects with broad applications, like mathematics, physical sciences or geography. These develop valuable skills such as critical thinking and numeracy, which are useful across many university programmes and industries. 3. Understand career and study requirements Even if they don't have a clear career goal, look at subject requirements for fields they might consider. For example, medicine requires mathematics, physical sciences and life sciences, while law often benefits from history and English. 4. Factor in emerging job trends The world of work is evolving rapidly, especially in areas like technology, healthcare and sustainability. Subjects like mathematics, physical sciences or information technology can prepare them for careers in these growing industries. Don't limit them to the traditional three to four year degrees, there are so many exciting, high-demand career paths out there that are directly aligned with industry needs. With new opportunities emerging all the time, it's worth exploring a wider range of education options. They might just find the perfect fit - something that didn't even exist a few years ago. 5. Find a balanced subject combination You're going to want to encourage your kids to want a mix of challenge and opportunity for good performance. Pairing a tough subject like physical sciences with a more manageable one like business studies can keep options open while ensuring a strong matric result. 6. Choose between Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy wisely Mathematics is essential for fields like engineering, science and commerce, while Mathematical Literacy is more suited to humanities or vocational paths. If they are unsure, mathematics gives them more flexibility in university admissions. Wonga signs off with a few extra tips for learners. 'When making subject choices in Grade 9, it is helpful to start from where you want to be in four years' time and then reverse engineer how you might get there.' 'Consult teachers, career counsellors or student advisors at universities both public and private for tailored guidance. Teachers can assess your academic strengths, while counsellors and student advisors can explain how subjects connect to career paths. 'Also consider going to university open days. Although you don't yet have to decide what to study, you are almost certain to gain highly valuable insights into your options after school, as well as gaining helpful advice and insights from professionals on campus.'
The Citizen
05-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Back to school after week-long break: What to expect as second term rolls on
One long weekend remains in the term, with Youth Day on Monday, 16 June. As students return to school after a week-long break, seven weeks still remain in the term. According to the Department of Basic Education school calendar, term 2 is set to end on Friday, 27 June 2025. One more long weekend There is one long weekend remaining in the term, with Youth Day falling on Monday, 16 June. Students will be at school on Friday, 13 June, and will return after the long weekend on Tuesday, 17 June. Meanwhile, matriculants will begin their May-June National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations on Monday, 12 May, with the exams concluding on Wednesday, 25 June 2025. Students will have a three-week break before the third term begins on 22 July 2025. ALSO READ: Pupils get special school holidays this month – here's how to keep them safe Here's a comprehensive overview of the key dates on the 2025 school calendar to help parents stay ahead of the game. Term 1: Schools start: 15 January 2025; Schools close: 28 March 2025; Public holidays: New Year's Day (1 January 2025), Human Rights Day (21 March 2025); and School holidays: 29 March to 7 April 2025. Second term: Schools start: 8 April 2025; Schools close: 27 June 2025; Public holidays: Good Friday (18 April 2025), Family Day (21 April 2025), Freedom Day (27 April 2025), Workers' Day (1 May 2025), Youth Day (16 June 2025); Special school holidays: 29 April to 2 May 2025; and School holidays: 18 June to 8 July 2025. Third term: School start: 22 July 2025; School closes: 3 October 2025; Public holidays: National Women's Day (9 August 2025), Heritage Day (24 September 2025); and School holidays: 6 to 10 October 2025. Fourth term: School start: 13 October 2025; School closes: 10 December 2025; Administration days: 11 to 12 December 2025; and Public holidays: Day of Reconciliation (16 December 2025), Christmas Day (25 December 2025), Day of Goodwill (26 December 2025). NOW READ: Matrics: Here is your May-June exam timetable
IOL News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Compulsory military service is not affordable
Former president Jacob Zuma declared free tertiary education on the last night of his presidency, as a parting shot to appease young South Africans. I, too, think that free education is wonderful, but our universities and the Treasury were not prepared for the bombshell that Zuma had dropped that night, says the writer. I agree with Sifiso Mahlangu, Editor of The Star, that 'Crime has become as routine as sunrise' ('Zuma was right, send young people to the military', The Star, May 02). While I must compliment the Editor for the originality of his simile/metaphor and for acknowledging that Jacob Zuma is a 'polarising figure' in our politics, neither he nor Zuma can be described as pragmatic individuals. Zuma declared free tertiary education on the last night of his presidency, as a parting shot to appease young South Africans. I, too, think that free education is wonderful, but our universities and the Treasury were not prepared for the bombshell that Zuma had dropped that night. As for compulsory national service for our matric male students (What about our female students, Mr Mahlangu?), that too is an ideology I support, just as I support capital punishment, but if one considers the sheer logistics of what Mahlangu is advocating, it is simply mind-boggling. Over 600 000 students passed the National Senior Certificate examination in 2024, of which over 80% were males, which works out to about 480 000 students. If we cannot afford to hire doctors, nurses, and teachers, how will our military, which is already a shambles, manage the intake of such an astronomical number of recruits? The strength of the Afrikaner nationalist government was its military. The white population was a drop in the ocean, so the government of the day could afford to enforce compulsory military service for whites only. One of my Afrikaner female heads of department at a university once told me how she had learned typing and self-defence while being stationed at a military base.
