SURPRISE GOLELA UPDATES

 -BY: Surprise Golela The class of 2020 is expected to sit for their final exams from November 5. The Minister of Basic Education addressed the media this morning on key developments in the basic education sector relating to Covid-19 level 1 regulations. “Today, we launch the official countdown to the examinations. It is now 34 days to the start of the NSC examinations for the matric class of 2020,” said Motshekga. The minister appealed with parents, guardians, and communities to rally behind all the candidates who will be writing their final exams this year. She added and said this is an extraordinary time for them (class of 2020) and all of us, but they need the support more. This year more than 1 million matriculants are expected to write their final exams next month, which is said to be the biggest group in the history of basic education department. “A total of 1 058, 699 candidates will sit for the examinations and we certainly have never had to manage a number that ...

-BY: Surprise Golela   During a media brief this morning the Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced that the 2021 academic year will officially start on 25 January. “First, let me confirm that schools will reopen on 25 January 2021,” said Motshekga. She said the school calendar will be gazetted tomorrow Friday, 2 October after that it will be made public. The Minister said they are working hard to plan the 2021 academic year taking into consideration the challenges the sector and the whole country faced this year. “ We are fully aware that the country need the school   calendar for effective planning purpose, we have worked hard to ensure it is done properly taking into account the disruptions that have occurred in 2020,” said Motshekga. The Minister’s briefing provided an update on key developments in the Basic Education sector relating to Covid-19 level 1 restrictions. Motshekga said schools will have to carry over some of this year’s curriculum work into...

 By: Surprise Golela Musician Phelo Bala had Mzansi talking this week after he posted pictures of himself with Make-up artist and businessman Vuyo Varoy, and his fans were really convinced it is his new bae. Although the two havent confirmed if they are in a relationship or not. Rumours of romance spread across social media which opened old wounds of Phelo's relationship with media personality Moshe Ndiki. While other people think phelo moved too soon, others are happy that he has "found love again". The Bala Brothers star, today released a new song titled "Andisafuni" which some people think it is a diss to Moshe Ndiki. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We dropping in 2 hours on all digital platforms♥️♥️ <a href="https://t.co/HbL1XWqe1Y">pic.twitter.com/HbL1XWqe1Y</a></p>&mdash; Phelo Bala (@PheloBala) <a href="https://twitter.com/PheloBala/status/1309221051...

By: Surprise Golela   The Department of Basic Education has cancelled this year’s final examinations for grade 10 and 11 pupils and the examination will be replaced with controlled tests. In line with the revised annual teaching plans and the time spent on teaching and learning, the promotion requirements for 2020 academic year have been revised. Grade 10’s will sit for an hour duration paper while Grade 11 will sit for two hours long papers. The pupils will write tests which are set by their schools, this is because the common tests which are always set by the provinces will not be set this year. The circular by the Department of Basic Education states that control tests should be set only on the content that was taught to pupils. “The controlled test must cover portion of the curriculum taught preferably work covered in all terms, wherever possible,” The circular further states that the tests must be administered under controlled conditions. “Fundamental subject...

By: Surprise Golela   The Department of Basic Education has released the final combined matric examination time-table. Early this year the Department postponed the writing of the National Senior Certificate and the Senior Certificate examinations, which were meant to be written by more than 350 000 part-time candidates in May and June this year due to COVID-19. The Combined June and November examinations will officially commence on Thursday,  November 20-20, and end on Tuesday, 15 December 2020. The department says the late commencement of the final Grade 12 examinations will allow schools and learners adequate time to cover the curriculum and also ensure that ample time is allocated for revision of the syllabus. This year over 1,1 Million candidates are expected to sit for the 2020 matric exams. The Education Dept said all registered candidates will receive an admission letter, by end of September 2020. The Life Orientation (LO) common Assessment task will be written on Monda...

The South African Police Services (SAPS) are investigating the violation of lockdown regulations by many mourners at the home of the late struggle icon Andrew Mlangeni. According to the Spokesperson of the SAPS Vishnu Naidoo, the police have received several calls to arrest mourners who contravened the lockdown regulations at the funeral of the late Icon yesterday.   The regulations in terms of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 makes provision for the dispensing of crowds who gather illegally, and it also makes provision to hold accountable a person [s] who convenes or organises illegal gatherings. The president had announced months ago that only 50 people are allowed at a funeral. Naidoo said a case of contravention of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 will be opened for investigation. “On completion of this investigation a docket will be submitted to the directorate of the Public prosecution for a decision,” said Naidoo. The ANC, which was the one which, organise...

The Spokesperson of the Department of Basic Education Elijah Mhlanga shared pictures of semi-naked women reading books on his twitter account over the weekend alongside the department's "Read to lead" campaign. The twitter users were not happy with the tweets and they expressed distasteful. The pictures looked as if Mhlanga was using women as object to attract young people to start reading.  A lot were offended by the tweets and did not hesitate to express their feelings. The Education system in South Africa has always been poor compared to other African countries, even studies shows that a lot of young people spend a lot of time on social media than on reading books. Nonetheless, this doesn't give the spokesperson the right to disrespectful women the way he did. The Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has distanced herself and her department  from the tweets. In a statement that she made she said that she was not aware that the campaign wo...

The unemployment rate in South Africa has increased.  According to a report by Stats S.A. the unemployment rate has increased to 29% in the second quarter of the year. This is actually the highest recordered since March 2008. Is this the direction that we are taking as a country. Weren't things supposed to be getting better. The political system in the county is in stumbles, the leadership is the one that is fighting in state of working to better the country.  It is a court case after the other. As a country what will we do about this. Where is the future of the young people of our country? The job creation that was promised during the state of the nation address now would really seem like it was all dream that the President has for the country.