Times Of Swaziland: MATRIC SYLLABUS TO CONTINUE BEYOND 2019 - U-TECH

MATRIC SYLLABUS TO CONTINUE BEYOND 2019 - U-TECH
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BY KHULEKANI NENE on 06/01/2018 14:54:00


BIG BEND – U-Tech Head teacher Mavela Shongwe insists that local schools will
continue offering the South African National Senior Certificate (Matric)
syllabus beyond 2019.
He said this while addressing the media yesterday morning when the Matric
Swaziland centre officially released its 2017 results.
Early last year, it was reported that local schools would no longer offer Matric
following a decision reportedly been taken by the South African Department of
Basic Education.
Offering
Shongwe said parents of pupils currently enrolled at schools offering Matric and
those who want their children to enrol for the syllabus should not panic.
“After 2019, we will continue offering Matric. We are banking our hopes on the
ongoing parliamentary process whereby a Parliament selected a committee to look
into the matter. We remain positive.”
He stated that another reason they were confident that beyond 2019 they would
continue offering the syllabus was because of discussions they had recently with
education officials from South Africa.
“When we were writing our last paper in November, we were visited by a
high-powered delegation from the KwaZulu Natal province where we are affiliated.
They interviewed us and we also had some discussions. However, I cannot reveal
the details of those discussions.”
Further, he said in the event local schools are stopped from offering the
syllabus in 2019, U-Tech has ‘plan B’ but did not unpack what this was.
Urged
Shongwe urged parents to continue to enrol their children in local schools
offering the syllabus, adding that they should stop taking their children to
South African schools, which offer the same syllabus.
He noted how he was surprised to find pupils and parents queuing for study
permits at the South African High Commission in Mbabane while local schools
offering the Matric do not require study permits.
“Bring your pupils to us and save yourselves time and money,” said Shongwe.
A total of nine schools sat for the Matric examination at the U-Tech Big Bend
last year.
The schools include: U-Tech, WEM, Pro Learning, Phumelele High, Mbalenhle
Christian Academy, SAIM School, Hillside College and Brookville Institute.