Senior Certificate 2020 – 2021

The Senior Certificate has been introduced by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) as an alternative qualification for the Nated 550 Senior Certificate which has been phased out as of June 2014. The approval for the amendments to the Senior Certificate has been outlined in the following documents: Examination Circular 17 of 2014 and the Government Gazette, 11 August 2014, on the resume of subjects for the amended Senior Certificate. The amended Senior Certificate is based on limited list of subjects from the new Curriculum- That is the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). However to accommodate adult learners it does NOT include the school based assessment requirements. This means that the learner’s final mark is solely the mark that they attained for the final examination. The Amended Senior Certificate will also be able to accommodate adult learners who have passed some Senior Certificate subjects to complete and obtain a matric qualification but may so by following the new curriculum. The new CAPS curriculum is developed to ensure that adult learners now have the knowledge and skills equivalent to that of a learner who has 12 years of solid education. Thus the CAPS curriculum is high knowledge, high skills and promotes 21st Century skills.

Official Language 1(Compulsory)	English Home Language/Zulu Home Language
Official Language 2(Compulsory)	English First Additional Language/Zulu First Additional Language/Afrikaans First Additional Language
Option 1 (Compulsory)	Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy
Option 2 (Choose only 1)	Religion Studies/Economics
Option 3(Choose only 1)	Accounting/Geography
Option 4	Business Studies/ Physical Science
Option 5	Life Sciences

Classes are only part-time, and offered in Durban Central and Phoenix

A total number of 6 subjects must be chosen in order to be applicable for a Senior Certificate Matric. The amended Senior Certificate will also be recognized by Higher Education Institutes such as Universities and Universities of Technology which will allow candidates to pursue a Higher Education qualifications such as a Degree or a Diploma. The introduction of the admission age of 21 years, as well as learners who have completed their grade 09 and exceptional cases of learners, who could not complete their Matric between the ages of 18-21 years, will ensure that all learners will be allowed opportunities to complete their matric qualification. The amended senior certificate also accommodates the learners who have exhausted their opportunities to improve National Senior Certificate (NSC) but however will be awarded a Senior Certificate and not a National Senior Certificate. The duration of the Senior Certificate is one year and the examination period is May-June. Learners must be mindful that this is a comprehensive curriculum designed to accommodate 21st Century thinking and therefore consistency and commitment will always be a winning combination.