The revised curriculum

The Senior Secondary (SS) phase

Mrs S.W. Wannberg

CEO: NIED
 The SS phase
• Grade 10 has become part of the SS phase
• The new NSSCO course will be implemented from
2019.
• NSSCO level, a two-year course to be taught
separately from the new course known as
Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced
Subsidiary (NSSCAS) level, which replaced NSSCH.
• Currently, NSSCH is offered in parallel with NSSCO
and has caused a lot of challenges in teaching
and learning in schools.
 Benchmarking NSSCO
• The NSSCO is benchmarked against the International
General Certificate of Education (IGCSE), an
international qualification for 14 to 16 years old, taken
in years 10 and 11 of the school curriculum in the UK.
• In the same way, the NSSCO level course will be
offered in Grade 10 and 11 in Namibia.
• With the current curriculum reforms, the NSSCO
curriculum has been strengthened to be aligned with
the current curriculum standards (academic
demands) of the IGCSE.
• The new NSSCO has the same quality and status as
the NSSCO currently offered in Grade 11 and 12.
 Benchmarking NSSCH
• NSSCH qualification is benchmarked against the
Higher International General Certificate of
Education (HIGCSE), which was an extension of
the IGCSE curriculum.
• HIGSE required a one-year course of study
beyond IGCSE and the examinations were
offered in year 12 of schooling. HIGCSE was
equivalent to the South African Matric (Higher
Grade), taken in year 12 of the school
education.
• HIGCSE has been phased out in 2010.
 Benchmarking NSSCAS

• NSSCAS, a one-year course will be introduced

in Grade 12 from 2021.
• NSSCAS will be benchmarked against
Cambridge Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level.
• Cambridge AS can be taken as a standalone
course or a first year course of Cambridge
Advanced Level (A-Level).
 Grade 10 external examinations
• The Grade 10 external examinations will be
discontinued from 2019
• Reasons:
 Grade 10 now part of the SS phase
 The JS Certificate is no longer in demand as
most of the job entries require a SS Certificate
 The Ministry plans to keep learners in the
school system longer
 Reduce high dropout rate at the end of JS phase
 Improve access to SS education.
 Information sharing
• Regional consultations 2012 and 2013
• Several presentations in regions, with unions, at
NIED training workshops and NIED panel
inductions, Costing for SP and JS workshops
• Discussions at NEACB meetings
• Media release 2017
• A National Information-sharing meeting was
held on the 8th and 9th November 2017
• Update the stakeholders and the general public
on the curriculum changes and implementation.
 Phasing out of Grade 10
national examinations
• Full-time learners who will not be able to
proceed to Grade 11 in 2019 may be accorded
the following opportunities:
• Full-time learners who are under the age of
seventeen (17) can be allowed to enrol for
Grade 9 in 2019, provided that there are places
available in schools. Those learners will follow
the new JS curriculum and will sit for the semi-
external examination at the end of Grade 9 in
2019.
 Phasing out … (cont.)
• Learners, who will pass the Grade 9 semi-
external examinations in 2019, will proceed to
the SS phase in 2020 to study for the new
NSSCO level (Grade 10-11)
• Those who will not pass the Grade 9 semi-
external examinations in 2019, will be allowed
to repeat Grade 9 once, provided that they did
not repeat Grade 8.
• Learners, who will proceed to the SS phase in
2020, will be able to complete the new NSSCO
in 2021, provided that they pass the first year
of the new NSSCO in 2020
 The revised curriculum for SS
phase: NSSCO (Grades 10-11)
• The curriculum comprises of the following
subjects:
- Core subjects: English (1st or 2nd Language),
Mathematics and another Language
- Elective subjects: Biology; Chemistry; Physics;
Geography; History; Agricultural Science; Computer
Studies; Design & Technology; Accounting; Office
Practice; Business Studies; Economics; Art & Design;
Entrepreneurship; Development Studies; Integrated
Performing Arts; Home Economics; Fashion & Fabrics;
Hospitality; Health & Social Care; Metalwork & Welding,
Woodwork, Building Studies; Motor Mechanics.
 NSSCO subjects (continued)
Other languages
Afrikaans 1st Khoekhoegowab Rukwangali 1st
Language 1st Language Language
Afrikaans 2nd Oshikwanyama 1st Rumanyo 1st
Language Language Language
German 1st Oshindonga 1st Setswana 1st
Language Language Language
German Foreign Otjiherero 1st
Silozi 1st Language
Language Language
French Foreign Namibian Sign Thimbukushu 1st
Language Language Language
Portuguese
Foreign Language
 NSSCO subjects (continued)
• Support Subjects: Life Skills, Arts, Information &
Communication, Physical Education,
• Reading Period
• Learners take two compulsory promotional
subjects, another language, two subjects from a
field of study, one subject from the list of
supplementary subjects plus four support
subjects.
• A learner may (with special permission) take a
one language curriculum.
 NSSCO revised curriculum
(Grades 10-11) - continued
• External examination for NSSCO qualification at
the end of Grade 11
• Learners will receive the NSSCO certificate (of
the same status and quality as the current
NSSCO) which is equivalent to the Cambridge
International General Certificate of Secondary
Education (IGCSE) and O-Level qualifications
designed for 14-16 year old learners
• Grade sets: A* to G
• Progress to Grade 12 (NSSCAS), Further
Education and Training or employment
Thank you!

Willemien Wannberg
wwannberg@nied.edu.na