POLOKWANE – Among these learners some have already started with Computer Application Technology (CAT) practicals on Monday followed by information technology practical yesterday (Tuesday).
With the formalities such as the registration of candidates and examination centres, final verification of data having been completed and question papers having been set and externally moderated, the preparations by the Department of Education have been finalised.
The department is confident it will run a credible and efficient process during the exams. Department of Education Spokesperson, Sam Makondo, said there are 23 marking centres in the province and 1 685 examination centres.
To avert the leakage of any 2017 question papers, all storage points across the country have been audited by the Department of Basic Education to ensure compliance with the minimum security standards.
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Makonda said there are 24-hour armed security guards at storage rooms where exam papers are stored and exam papers are delivered weekly to the storage facilities and daily to schools. The papers are collected and delivered by principals and circuit offices.
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The Director for Examinations, Priscilla Ogunbanjo, told the Portfolio Committee for Education earlier this year the education sector had adopted a principle of ‘just-in-time’ printing to reduce the risk of storing printed question papers for too long in provinces.
The Gr 12 final examinations will conclude on 29 November and the Minister of Basic Education will announce the outcome of the 2017 NSC Examinations on 4 January 2018. Candidates will be able to collect their results on 5 January 2018 at the centre where they wrote their examinations.
Westenburg Secondary School, with 112 candidates, looked forward to start writing their matric exams with learners and the school being ready for the next few weeks to account for their studies. Capricorn High School, with 244 learners to write their matric this year, has started with CAT practical and some candidates were to do IT practicals yesterday. The school was prepared and learners eager to get the exams behind them.
Hoërskool Noorderland with 183 candidates also started with CAT practicals on Monday. The school was well prepared and looking forward to an incident-free exam period.
According to Makondo, the MEC for Education, Ishmael Kgetjepe, will announce the provincial top results on 5 January at a function, the venue of which is yet to be announced.
Limpopo Premier’s exam message:
I pray and believe that no learner will have to kill themselves because they think they haven’t studied enough. There’s no need for that. Your parents, principals, SGB and pastors in the community can help ease exam blues.
Above all, I wish all of you the best of luck as you sit for the exit exam. There’s no such thing like ‘I am a useless learner’, all of you are gifted differently.
I urge the Vuwani learners who unfortunately again lost a few weeks of their studies to give their all. Just like the class of 2016, you can do it again.
I urge all the districts and circuits to emulate Vhembe district. There’s no excuse this year because there were no school disruptions.
I thank all educators, parents and SGBs for their efforts under difficult circumstances to make education fashionable and I hope to meet most of you next year when we award the best of the best.
Good luck with the exams class of 2017!
Limpopo Premier, Stanley Mathabatha.
