Government Gazette

Vol. 416, No. 20911, 18 February 2000

GENERAL NOTICE

Notice 647 of 2000

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY ACT, 1996 (ACT NO. 27 OF 1996)

DRAFT AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL POLICY

The Minister of Education. after consultation with the Council of Education Ministers. hereby gives notice in terms of section 3(4)(i) of the National Education Policy Act, 1996 (No. 27 of 1996) of the age requirements for the admission of learners to an independent school or different grades at such a school. as set out in the Schedule.

PROFESSOR KADER ASMAL, MP
MINISTER OF EDUCATION

SCHEDULE

AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

Interpretation

  1. In this notice any expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the National Education Policy Act. 1996 (No. 27 of 1996) shall have that meaning.

Age requirements for admission to an independent school

  1. The statistical age norm per grade is the grade number plus 6.
Example: Grade 1 + 6 = age 7
Grade 9 + 6 = age 15
Grade 12+6 = age 18

  1. A learner must be admitted to grade 1 if he or she turns seven in the course of that calendar year. A learner who is younger than this age may not be admitted to grade 1.

  2. A learner may be admitted to grade R only if he or she turns six in the course of that calendar year. Attendance of grade R is not compulsory.

Application

  1. These age requirements must be applied in addition to the grounds for registration of independent schools as determined by the Member of the Executive Council as contemplated in section 46(2) of the South African Schools Act, 1996 (No. 84 of 1 996).

Short title and commencement

  1. This notice is called the Age Requirements for Admission to an Independent School Policy. and it comes into effect on 1 January 2001.