SURPRISE GOLELA UPDATES

By: Surprise Golela Basic education minister Angie Motshekga has announced that matric pupils will not rewrite the leaked Maths and Physics Paper 2 exams.   This is in line with the high court in Pretoria’s ruling. The Council of Education (CEM), which consists of the minister and deputy minister of basic education and all provincial education MECs has agreed with the high court in Pretoria’s ruling. On Friday, the court ruled that the rewrite decision was unlawful, irregular and should be set aside. Motshekga says pupils, teachers and parents should take solace in the CEM’s decision. In a statement released on Saturday, the department of education says: “CEM agreed that the class of 2020 has been confronted by many challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and it would therefore be unfair to further subject the class of 2020, their teachers and parents to further uncertainties and exacerbate the anxieties they currently face," Concerns over judgement While the CEM agrees ...

 -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   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...

A US-based Nigerian doctor Stella Immanuel claims to have found a cure for COVID-19. The doctor spoke during a news conference that was held by a group of American doctors in front of the U.S Supreme Court in Washington DC. Dr. Immanuel claims that she had successfully treated over 350 people from COVID-19 using hydroxychloroquine in a video that got more than 20 million views on Facebook and the video continues to trend even after being removed. “ I’m here because I have personally treated over 350 patients with COVID ,” said Immanuel. follow the link to see the video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1288006436031795202 “Patients that have diabetes, patients that have high blood pressure, patients that have asthma, old people…And the results have been the same. I put them on Hydroxychloroquine, I put them on zinc, I put them on Zithromax, and they are all well,” she said. The doctor continued and added that she had put herself, her staff, and other doctors she knew on hydroxychloroquine ...