Overview / What are the notable features of the IEB-ISC?
The qualification is geared to preparing students for life.  There is a “basket” of soft and hard skills, called Global Competences for Lifelong Learning, that students can offer over the two or three years in which they prepare for their final ISC subject-specific examinations.  Recognition is given for their experiences in these areas which include digital literacy, active citizenry, career exploration, work readiness, research methodology, Similar options for inclusion in the “basket” will be considered, as and when they arise. 

The mathematics offerings in the qualification extend across a range of five levels to accommodate the specific needs, ability and interest levels of students who choose to study the field.  At the Further Studies level, the standards and curriculum coverage compare very favourably with what is required by top tertiary institutions across the world.  Similar options exist in the study of languages e.g. Further Studies English, as well as science e.g. Further Studies Physics. 

The delivery of the qualification can be accommodated very easily in a variety of teaching modes – traditional face-to-face, distance education including online learning and hybrid or blended learning. 

Finally, recognising the importance of language and culture in the self-esteem of a community, the qualification recognises a range of indigenous African languages as options of study in the qualification, thereby providing African languages with a more prominent role than they have generally in international qualifications.  Since it is an international qualification, the qualification accommodates the offering of other prominent languages in Africa such as Arabic, French, German and Portuguese, to name a few. 

In language study, there is also a range of levels in order to accommodate the specific needs, ability and interest levels of students who choose to study in the field of language.  At the Further Studies level, currently offered in English and Afrikaans, the standards and curriculum coverage compare very favourably with what is required by top tertiary institutions across the world.  

Currently examinations are offered in English and Afrikaans as languages of learning and teaching.   However, the qualification includes a provision that should there be sufficient demand to make it viable and that there are appropriate options for tertiary education, the languages of learning and teaching of the qualification can be extended to include other African-based languages of teaching and learning.