Vuyolwethu Sangotsha

Vuyolwethu Sangotsha

Some Eastern Cape pupils who failed grade 11 and were promoted to grade 12 will only be allowed to do grade 12 for one year.

But Education Minister Naledi Pandor said last month that a pupil who has failed grade 11 cannot reasonably be expected to pass grade 12 this year.

She said that candidates who have failed grade 11 but desire to continue with the existing curriculum should only be permitted to register as part-time candidates for part of the Senior Certificate.

"They will then be able to complete the Senior Certificate over a minimum of a two-year period," Pandor said.

An East London principal, who did not want to be named, said: "I have promoted grade 11 pupils as part-time candidates in my school, but that does not mean they are all going to do grade 12 for the period of two years.

"It will depend on the individual's ability if they only do grade 12 for one year."

The principal of Vulamazibuko High School in Mdantsane, Masixole Kwinana, said that 138 pupils had been promoted as private candidates in his school.

He said these pupils will only do grade 12 for one year.

"The curriculum they are doing this year is being phased out so it will not be available next year," Kwinana said.

Pandor's spokesman Lunga Ngqengelele said yesterday that there were four options available to the provinces for failed grade 11 pupils. One option was to register promoted grade 11 pupils as part-time candidates for grade 12.

"We will not force the options down the throats of the provinces," Ngqengelele said.