The matric results will be announced on Thursday December 29, Minister of Education Naledi Pandor said on Monday.
The date was agreed to at a Council of Education Ministers meeting in Pretoria on Monday.
Matrics finished writing their exams earlier this month.
The date was one of a number of issues dealt with at the meeting.
The council also approved a draft policy on school uniforms, setting out the essential items schools can require of pupils.
It is about cutting costs and preventing the purchase of unnecessary clothing, Pandor explained, adding that the draft makes provision for the assistance of those unable to afford even the basic items.
The council did not approve a draft language policy to ensure children are taught in their mother tongues in primary school and learn to converse in at least one indigenous black language.
It was sent back for refinement, said Pandor.
The draft needs to clarify the source of the resources needed to introduce the policy and to appoint extra teachers, she said.
”We stressed the need that our policy must promote the learning of at least one of the black indigenous languages at the communicative level.”
This does not involve education and teaching in the indigenous language, but merely ensuring a basic competence.
Although Pandor acknowledged that Afrikaans is an indigenous language, she said the policy will seek specifically to boost communication skills in the black languages.
”How long must it take us to promote black languages in South Africa? It cannot take us 20 years.”
Director General of Education Duncan Hindle said the draft is being developed by national and provincial education departments and experts, and should come before the council again early next year.
On the building of new school premises, Pandor reported the construction of 67 schools in the 179 areas identified last year where pupils were still being taught under trees.
She instructed provincial ministers to move with speed on the outstanding 112 cases. This could even entail the provision of mobile classrooms, Pandor said, adding: ”We cannot allow this to go on.”
Regarding schools without water, she said the backlog has been reduced ”quite significantly” by about 72%.
Steps are also being taken to ensure all schools have access to sanitation and that classrooms are safe.
The council also discussed the National Council of Provinces’ recent approval of the Education Laws Amendment Bill, providing for the introduction of no-fee schools from next year.
The National Assembly is to consider the Bill on December 13 and 14, Pandor said.
”We hope the president will sign it this year.”
The project will be funded from R30-billion set aside in the national Budget for social services this year.
Confident that the department is ready to introduce the new grade-10 curriculum next year, Pandor said: ”It is all systems go.”
The distribution of textbook catalogues and teacher orientation material is ”progressing well”.
The council also adopted a policy to lessen teachers’ administrative and paperwork burden and agreed to bring out five-yearly rather than annual school calendars. — Sapa