A whopping 6 000 Grade 10s nationally only failed by three points or less last year, while nearly 3 500 pupils failed dismally. The Deputy Minister of Education David Namwandi last week urged parents to look into other alter-natives for children that did not meet the required points to be promoted to Grade 11 and has explained the different categories of learners and what their options are.
The Deputy Minister last week briefed parents, teachers as well as learners about the current situation around Grade 10 repeaters that need to continue their education following their failure last year.
Over 17 000 Grade 10 learners nationally did not qualify for promotion last year.
According to Namwandi there are 2 313 learners who fall between the ages of 17 and below and who scored between 0 to 22 points in their examinations. A pass mark is 23 points. Namwandi said the Ministry was committed to create spaces in the schools they had failed at so that they can repeat Grade 10.
A total of 3 492 learners obtained points between 0 and 13. According to Namwandi these learners performed “un-acceptably” in their Grade 10 examinations. Alternatives to the academic careers must be explored with opportunities in the vocational sector, specifically the COSDECS, which have available space for 2 000 learners this year, he said
A further 7 689 learners obtained 14 to 19 points in their 6 best subjects. These learners are advised to enroll with NAMCOL to improve their weakest subjects. In addition to this option, those who would be interested to opt for a vocational career would have the opportunity to enroll in a bridging programme at the NTA scheduled to start mid-February.
Lastly, 6 065 learners achieved points between 20 and 22. These learners are very close to the minimum requirement of 23 points to qualify to proceed to Grade 11. These learners historically opt to pursue or repeat one to two subjects in which they performed poorly through NAMCOL. This option is more advisable, because if they repeat Grade 10 as full-time learners at a formal school, they will forfeit the grades previously obtained in the 2011 JSC Examinations, and there is no guarantee that subjects previously passed shall not be failed.
Namwandi said learners' readmission for full-time repetition is voluntary since some of them may opt to repeat only one or few of the subjects through NAMCOL that will enable them to qualify for admission into Grade 11 in 2013. However, those who are 17 years of age and younger should repeat on a full-time basis.
Namwandi says that is has become the custom to allow learners who sat for the JSC examinations and who have not met the promotion requirements to Grade 11, to repeat the year.