The introduction of a General Education Certificate (GEC) did not mean pupils could leave school after completing Grade 9, the education department said. Instead, the move was aimed at sending more people to technical education institutions. In an address to the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) on Thursday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga outlined plans for the certificate and the introduction of other qualifications.
"The first cycle of systemic evaluations in grades 3, 6 and 9 will be finalised by June 2020. The field trial for the general education certificate at the end of Grade 9 is scheduled for completion at the end of July 2020," she said at Sadtu's national congress at Nasrec, near Soweto.
Certificate is three-stream based
"The GEC at the end of Grade 9 acknowledges a broad foundation of knowledge and skills as a basis for further learning and study, which could happen in a range of further education institutions.
"Offering a GEC is not an indication of the exit of learners from a learning pathway in schools but provides better decision-making for and access to further learning after Grade 9," Mhlanga said.
The certificate is meant to offer pathways between schools and colleges at a level below Grade 12.