BusinessTech reports that according to the Government Gazette notice published on 21 July, the education department called for written submissions on the proviso, which called for the deletion of regulation 4, sub-regulation 4b(1d) (1) which reads:
- Learners offering Physical Sciences [and Accounting] as one [or more] of their optional subjects selected from Group B in the policy document, National policy Pertaining to the Programme and Promotion Requirements of the National Curriculum Statement Grades R – 12; must offer Mathematics compulsory subject selected from Group A in the said policy document.
Speaking to BusinessTech, departmental spokesperson Troy Martens confirmed that the gazetted proviso seeks to no longer make maths a requirement for accounting, but was unable to provide comment on whether the same applied for physical sciences.
She noted that she would revert the issue back to those in charge of the curriculum, however in reading the above proviso, it is clear the change is likely to affect science as well.
Martens noted that the changes were made to prevent subject choices limiting career opportunities.
“What we found, when we made the provision originally, is that in making students take mathematics with accounting it tended to exclude people,” she said.
“The changes were made to accommodate students who were looking at more administrative accounting and entering degrees such as a BCom Marketing.”
“Obviously if you want to become a chartered accountant you will still need to take mathematics as a subject.”
