Saturday, October 1, 2011

Dept ready for matric exams 2011-09-22 20:01

Pretoria - A total of 6 540 examination centres will be set up for this year's matric exams, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said on Thursday.

There would be 132 question papers written by 620 266 students. Of these, 512 029 were full-time students, she told reporters in Pretoria.

She said 53 question papers had been adapted for Braille and 45 for deaf pupils.

The exams start on October 24 and finish on December 1.

Marking in eight provinces will start on December 2. In Gauteng, marking will start on November 9 on a staggered basis as exams were being completed.

Marking will take place at 123 marking centres with 35 000 markers.

The minister said her department was fully geared for the national senior certificate exams.

"We can confirm confidently that we're ready to administer a credible NSC examination," she said.
- SAPA
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Dept-ready-for-matric-exams-20110922

Significant Days

Events
Free State Arts and Culture celebrates International Translation Day, 29 September 2011
Defence briefs media on state of South African Air Force, 30 September 2011
World Trauma Day , 17 October 2012
World Spine Day , 17 October 2012
World Move for Health Day, 10 May 2012
World Mental Health Day , 10 October 2012
National Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day , 15 October 2012
World Malaria Day , 25 April 2012
World Leprosy Day, 30 January 2012
Partnership against HIV and AIDS Anniversary , 9 October 2012
World Kidney Day, 11 March 2012
World Health Day, 7 April 2012
Mental Illness Awareness Month , 1 October 2012 to 31 October 2012
International Breast Cancer Month , 1 October 2012 to 31 October 2012
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day , 15 June 2012
National Epilepsy Day , 21 June 2012
World Head Injury Day , 20 March 2012
World Haemophilia Day , 17 April 2012
International Day of Innocent Children - Victims of Aggression , 4 June 2012
World Down Syndrome Day , 21 March 2012
Also see future events for this month

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The day is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action which recognises the significance of abuse and neglect of older adults as a public health and human rights issue.

Throughout the world, senior abuse and neglect is largely under-recognised or treated as an unspoken problem.

Research indicates that public education campaigns like World Elder Abuse Awareness Day are vital for informing people in a growing number of countries about elder abuse and active involvement of the media is central to its success.

Read more on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

International Day of Innocent Children - Victims of Aggression

4 June
The United Nations (UN) International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed on 4 June each year.

The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. This day affirms the UN's commitment to protect the rights of children.

Read more about International Day of Innocent Children - Victims of Aggression.

Address at the 16th SAOU School Principal Symposium by Mrs Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, Port Elizabeth

5 Sep 2011
Programme Director
President of South African Teachers' Union (SAOU), Dr Jopie Breed
SAOU members
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me much pleasure to address the 16th SAOU School Principal Symposium. Thank you warmly for inviting us.

On 11 August 2011, I saw a disturbing editorial in The Star, on riots in Britain. The newspaper called it 'a timely riot'. It said the protest was not political. “The rioters had no agenda”.

It blamed the unrest on 'a disaffected criminal fringe made up of people who felt they have no stake in society'. It concluded the burning and looting in the erstwhile colonial empire highlighted 'the dangers posed by economic inequality and a troubled education system.'

Two questions sprung to mind: How does society produce "a disaffected criminal fringe, made up of people who felt they have no stake in society?" and, "does this ring alarm bells for the SAOU Principal Symposium?"