IMPLEMENTATION OF GRADE 12 NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE(NSC) LITERATURE SET-WORKS FOR ALL OFFICIAL LANGUAGES - Circular E39 of 2016 - transitional measures for October/November 2017 and February/March 2018

Sep 18, 2026

Circular E39 of 2016 sets transitional measures for the implementation of Grade 12 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Literature set-works across all official languages in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 examinations. It explains how newly scheduled titles from the 2015 Literature Catalogue will be implemented where full genre complements exist, and how missing titles will be replaced using Circular S4 of 2008 where gaps remain. The circular also clarifies rules for prescribed poetry anthologies and short-story anthologies, and specifies guidance continues for folklore and Second Additional Languages where suitable materials vary by language.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Reading Time1 h 56 min

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IMPLEMENTATION OF GRADE 12 NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC) LITERATURE SET-WORKS

Official Home Languages (HL) and First Additional Languages (FAL)

Poetry anthology prescriptions

Short stories anthology prescriptions

Folklore guidance

Second Additional Languages (SAL)

ANNEXUREB Private Bag X895,Pretoria,0001,Sol Plaatje House,222 Struben Street,Pretoria,0002,South AfricaTel.:(012)3573000,Fax:(012)3230601,www.education.gov.za TO: HEADS OF PROVINCIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS ALL SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLSHEADS OF EXAMINATIONSHEADS OF CURRICULUM SECTIONSINDEPENDENT EXAMINATIONS BOARD INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICASOCIETY OF REGIONAL TRAINING CENTRES SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR DISTANCE EDUCATIONTEACHER UNIONS SOUTH AFRICAN COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT INSTITUTEUMALUS CIRCULAR E39 OF 2016 # IMPLEMENTATION OF GRADE 12 NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE(NSC)LITERATURE SET-WORKS FOR ALLOFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN THE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 AND FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 EXAMNATIONS 1. This Circular which relates to the implementation of the literature set-works for Grade 12 National SeniorCertificate (NSC)examinations in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 examinations must beread in conjunction with Circular S4 of 2008 dated 8 May 2008;Circular S13of 2013 dated 2 December 2013;Circular S15 of 2014 dated 12 November 2014 and Circular S4 of 2016 dated 28 October 2016. 2. After the release of the first Grades 10-12 Literature Catalogue in 2015,it was established that some languagesdid not have new materials in all the genres as required.The DBE undertook a subsequent screening process in2016,in an attempt tofil the gaps.However,the 2016 screening process could silnot identify suitable materialsto fill all the gaps as was intended. 3. After consultation with all the stakeholders,and given that there are no new materials available in some requiredtitles,the Department of Basic Education(DBE)has decided to put the fllowing transitional measures in place: # Official Home Languages(HL)and First Additional Languages (FAL) a) Where the 2015 Literature Catalogue provides a full complement for a specific genre,the new titles will beimplemented in 2017 as scheduled.For example,English Home Language has a full complement of twonew novels (both classic and contemporary).This means that the two new novels will be studied in 2017,and questions set thereon in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC literaturequestion paper b) Where the 2015 Literature Catalogue does not provide a full complement of titles in a genre,the missingtitles must be replaced by the titles from Circular S4 of 2008.For example,in the case of a HomeLanguage with only one new drama instead of two,learners will have an option of studying the new dramaor choosing one from the list cited in Circular S4 of 2008. c) Where there are no new titles for a particular genre in the 2015 Literature Catalogue,titles cited in CircularS4 of 2008,will be studied and assessed in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSCexaminations. 4. it is important to note that only one Poetry Anthology is prescribed for each official Home and First AdditionalLanguage.If the language level has a new anthology of poems,the October/November 2017 and February/March2018 NSC question paper will comprise poems selected from the new anthology. 5. Similarly,where the 2015 Literature Catalogue does not provide a new anthology of poems,for example,IsiZuduFAL,the anthology as cited in Circular S4 of 2008 willbe studied and assessed in the October/November 2017and February/March 2018 NSC examinations. 6. Similar to poetry,only one anthology for short stories is prescribed for each official First Additional language.If the language level has a new anthology,the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSCexaminations will be set on the short stories selected from the 2015 Literature Catalogue. 7. In the event where the 2015 Literature Catalogue does not provide a new anthology for short stories,for example,IsiXhosa FAL,the anthology for short stories,as cited in Circular S4 of 2008,will be studied and assessed in theOctober/November 2017 and February/March 2018 NSC examinations. 8. Guidance provi

FAQs

What is Circular E39 of 2016 about?

It provides transitional measures for implementing Grade 12 NSC Literature set-works for all official languages in the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 exam cycles.

How will literature set-works be selected for Official Home Languages (HL) and First Additional Languages (FAL)?

If the 2015 Literature Catalogue has a full complement for a genre, the new titles are implemented as scheduled. If the catalogue lacks titles, missing titles are replaced using Circular S4 of 2008; if there are no new titles, only titles cited in Circular S4 of 2008 are studied and assessed.

What rules govern poetry and short-story anthologies?

Only one Poetry Anthology is prescribed for each official HL and FAL; when there is a new anthology, the October/November 2017 and February/March 2018 papers draw poems from it, otherwise the anthology cited in Circular S4 of 2008 is used. Similarly, only one short-story anthology is prescribed for each official First Additional Language; when no new anthology exists, learners study and are assessed on the anthology cited in Circular S4 of 2008.

What does the circular state for Second Additional Languages (SAL)?

SAL selection follows what is available in the Literature Catalogue for the specified exam cycles. If there are no new titles, affected SALs continue offering only Short Stories as per Circular S13 of 2013, with exceptions mentioned for isiXhosa; where new titles exist, they are added alongside existing Short Stories.

Sep 18, 2026

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