Question NW722 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training
10 April 2017 - NW722
Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training
(1) What is the total number of subject results relating to the November 2016 examinations for the national certificate (Vocational) that were only finalised and released after February 2017; (2) were any outstanding marks brought under his departments attention, even though all information required to finalise the individual results was submitted by the public colleges to the department at or before the due dates as per the examination schedule; if so, what is the total number of such subject results that that were affected; (3) whether in future his department is planning to release the final marks affected by the performance of candidate’s in the November examinations before the start of the registration period for the March supplementary examinations; if not, why not; if so, how will it be achieved?
Reply:
- The total number of National Certificate (Vocational) [NC(V)] subject results for the November 2016 examinations that were only finalised and released after February 2017 was 1 267 out of a total of 1 034 400 subject results. This was due to colleges submitting an inordinate number of absentees and incorrect marks. Colleges were requested to confirm the examination results and where colleges submitted mark changes, these had to be supported by portfolios of evidence. This exercise proved that colleges were not always meticulous in the verification of marks prior to submission to the Department for processing. The Department will be implementing consequence management to mitigate the recurrence of this behaviour.
- The final Schedule of Results for the NC(V) levels 2 to 4 for the November 2016 examinations was released to examination centres on 4 March 2017. However, 949 subject results could not be processed and released due to Colleges submitting changes/corrections of marks after the 6 to 10 February 2017 period. The 949 subject results have since been processed and submitted to Umalusi for quality assurance, and it is envisaged that the results will be re-released on 31 March 2017.
- Yes in the future, the Department is planning to release the final marks of the November examinations prior to the start of the registration period of the March supplementary examinations. The Department will also be implementing key initiatives for future examinations, where college Principals or their delegated officials, no less than a Deputy Principal or Campus Manager, will sign off on all marks before consideration by the Department for processing. This initiative will ensure that college Principals take full accountability for the completeness and accuracy of mark submissions.
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DIRECTOR – GENERAL
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QUESTION 722 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP
MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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