Examination dates: NSC 2018

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Are you looking for the dates of the NSC supplementary examination in February/March or the final examination in October/November 2018? Click here.

Free State Asssessment Guidelines 2018

The 2018 edition of the Free State Assessment Guidelines are available. Click here to go to the page from where you can download your e-version.

Space pioneer John Young passed away

On Friday, 5 January 2018, John Young, NASA's longest-serving astronaut, passed away.

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This talented man participated in many space programmes, starting in the 1960s.

So much interesting information is available about him. In the picture immediately above he was jumping and saluting the USA flag on the surface of the moon in April 1972. Read more about him here, here and here. Very nice videos are included in the original web pages. The texts of these articles are available in pdf format here, here and here.

Nicola Tesla: What an extraordinary man!

Today (7 January 2018), 75 years ago, Nicola Tesla passed away.

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We touch on some of the theories of this extraordinary man in our physical science curriculum, but you might want to know a little bit more of the life of this genius. An abridged summary of his life is available here and a pdf of the article is available here. References are made to Thomas Edison of whom more information is available here. I have always wondered how the world would be had more of his inventions seen the light.

Thank you: Release of grade 12 results of 2017

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With the release of the results of the 2017 grade 12 learners, the Free State has indeed received good (physical science) news. 

On behalf of our Secondary Schools' Director and CES at Head Office, Mr Tsatsi Montso and Miss Janetta Nel, plus the whole team of subject advisers for physical sciences, I want to extend a special word of thanks to each and every grade 12 physical science teacher in the Free State for the overall good results of 2017. The province has achieved position one in South Africa with a pass percentage in physical sciences of 77,0%. All our districts have achieved pass percentages of above 70% in the subject as well. That was only possible through very hard work on the side of the teachers and their learners. We have the greatest appreciation for that. We also want to thank all the principals and members of the SMTs for the roles they have played to support the physical science teachers. 

In addition, I want to thank all the other teachers that were responsible for the 2017 group when they were in grade 11 and lower down. The focus is always on grade 12, but we honour you for the role you have played to lay good foundations. I also want to thank our subject adviser colleagues in the GET phase for the enormous role they have played to support good results in grade 12 indirectly.

What I have said so far is applicable to physical sciences. However, we are also privileged - as a province - to have achieved the first position in the country for the overall results with a pass percentage of 86,1%, with Fezile Dabi and Thabo Mofutsanyana as the two best performing districts in the country overall. Their overall pass percentages were 90,2% and 90,0% respectively. That is an excellent achievement!

In view of all of this, once again thank you. Build on these strengths for 2018. However, we have to address those spots where things did not go so well. Study the reports of NDBE (available via this post), identify your weak spots and prepare for 2018 in which we all have to do our utmost best to push the results even higher.

Matric results of 2017

Congratulations to everybody who has achieved!

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Reports about the 2017 NSC examination are available at the NDBE website. Scroll down a little bit to access available reports.

Happy New Year 2018

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We have come to the end of 2017 and I guess it is an embedded part of human nature to reflect on things of the past and wonder about things of the future.

2017 is over and we cannot change anything anymore. For some, it was a good year in which opportunities and happiness presented themselves. For others, it was a year in which sadness and sorrow were constant companions.

In view of this, I want to wish you, and everybody close to you, everything of the best for 2018. May new horizons unfold and may all your dreams become true. Be kind to yourself and to those close to you; friends included. Enjoy the simple pleasures of life and tackle the responsibilities with energy and a spirit to succeed. 

May you discover your hidden potential and convert it into a massive positive effect on other people. I trust that 2018 will be very special for you!

***  Happy New Year!  ***