There are high hopes in the Grahamstown Education District as 945 learners will write their first paper under the new curriculum, Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (Caps) on Monday.
There are high hopes in the Grahamstown Education District as 945 learners will write their first paper under the new curriculum, Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (Caps) on Monday.
The district is aiming for a 70% overall pass rate for the class of 2014 District director Amos Fetsha told Grocott's Mail that the district is ready to run an irregularity-free examination as all the schools have finished their syllabus and are now busy with revisions.
"This week we are distributing timetables, collecting oral marks and School Based Assessments (SBA) schedules so that we can capture them.
We are also completing the SBA moderations this week," said Fetsha. He said another crucial aspect of getting ready for the exams is to sensitise school principals on examination regulations.
Grocott's Mail spoke to a number of schools around Grahamstown to find out about the readiness of this year examinations; most schools are finalising revisions until the end of this week.
Nombulelo Senior Secondary principal Mthuthuzeli Koliti told Grocott's Mail on Wednesday that the Grade 12 pupils at his school are busy with revisions this week and they are ready for the start of the exams.
"Children are different, you can never say they are entirely ready, we fight with them during the year to do their work, but they push themselves.
These days they show more willingness.
"There will be improvement in the results, we don't expect anything less than 50%, but our target is 70% pass rate," said Koliti.
He said they are currently doing revision and puipls are bringing questions about subject areas or sections they want to be repeated.
Speaking about the difficulty of Caps, Koliti said he did not think pupils would have a problem because there is not much change in terms of the content from the previous curriculum, "There is not a big difference in content, and the change is the approach."
Erika Esterhuizen, Head Of Department at PJ Olivier also echoed Koliti's sentiments about Caps saying that pupils have to study much more content than previously.
"Personally, I do not think the learners have gathered this. They still think that they can do well by doing the least." she said.
Esterhuizen said extra classes were given throughout the year by staff members for free to give pupils their best chance.
"Many of the pupils did not attend these classes, but those that wanted to be successful in life were there constantly," said Esterhuizen PJ Olivier is hoping for a 100% pass rate.
"It all depends on the commitment of pupils. These days there are so much more resources available to assist Grade 12 pupils, but there are still a lack of commitment from the pupils' side to give it [their]all," she said.
At Graeme College, everything is set and ready to start the 2014 final matric examinations on Monday.
Deputy Headmaster Robin Stephenson said they are confident that they will have good results as the trial examination prepared the pupils well.
"Usually pupils do better in final examinations because of the thorough assessment that they go through during the year,"
Stephenson said Kutliso Daniels Principal Radio Mcuba says that for preparation the puipls attended a spring camp that took place at the Army base which ended last week on Sunday.
"This week we will collaborate with Nyaluza High school and conduct study sessions for various subjects.
There is not much time left now, the best we can do is build the learners confidence through revision," Mcuba said Deputy Principal at Victoria Girls High school.
Anna Retief told Grocott's Mail that the school's approach towards a successful final examination is to instil the right attitude and skill-set required since grade 8.
"As a school we have done our best over the span of their high school career to prepare them for the final examination." Retief said.
Ashley Westaway from Gadra Education said that their students are ready for the exams as they continue studying.
"We do a full year of teaching and we don't do last minute things." he said.
