Motshekga maintains no ‘pass one, pass all’ approach to academic year
The Department of Basic Education has reiterated its position on assessments for the remainder of the academic year.
Minister Angie Motshekga has been at pains to emphasize that there won’t be a “pass one, pass all” approach to assessments as the year inches closer to an end.
It comes amid growing concerns about the department’s ability to catch up on lost time during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Motshekga told MPs on Wednesday that the department is working around the clock to cover more ground.
“Our story is we want our kids to go back, try and clock back as much as we can and get them to be promoted.
“But we’ve decided that there’s not going to be pass one, pass all. They are going to be assessed on what we would have taught them,” Motshekga said.
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After the coronavirus reached South African shores in March, Treasury issued guidelines on maximum prices that government departments and companies should pay for PPEs. In April, following a public outcry at allegations of tender irregularities, President Cyril Ramaphosa asked Makwetu and his office to audit the procurement processes.
Earlier this year Kenya declared its school year lost because of the coronavirus pandemic and that primary and secondary pupils would return to the classroom next January.
During the joint plenary sitting, an MP raised concerns that the country was not matching global trends.
“We are an independent country, we make our own decisions and we’ve made our decisions. The fact that Kenya has chosen a certain path, that’s a Kenyan story,” Motshekga said.
The current academic year is expected to run into mid-December.
Grade 12 exams results will only be published in February 2021.
