All systems go for matric’s final exams
MEC for Education, Ishmael Kgetjepe wishes matrics well for their upcoming final exams
POLOKWANE – The Deputy Director General for Curriculum Management and Delivery, Dr Komani Mphahlele, during an interview on Tuesday said the department tried its best to prepare well for the Gr 12 year-end exams and put in all efforts to ensure uneventful and incident-free examinations.
“We also made a huge effort to arrest the decline in results and ensure improved results by providing Saturday classes, camps, spring classes, utilising the SABC and teachers with good records. We aim for a pass rate of at least 62%. With regards to the examinations, principals are appointed as chief invigilators and we did our best to restore people’s confidence in the credibility of the systems. Extreme security precautions were taken at the government printing works, storage points and examination centres to ensure exam papers are not stolen or compromised,” he said. Mphahlele added since 2008 the number of matrics have increased by more than 10 000 learners and passes also increased numerically. He said the number of schools have decreased as a result of mergers, and as a result classes are larger. “More learners have also joined private schools,” he said.
Some 100 041 full-time and 27 555 part-time matric candidates in the province will write their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in the province, with the majority starting on 24 October.
Department of Education Spokesperson, Sam Makondo, earlier this week said there are 23 marking centres in the province and 1 685 examination centres. Makondo said there are 24-hour armed security guards at storage rooms where exam papers are stored. Exam papers will be delivered weekly to the storage facilities and daily to schools. The papers will be collected and delivered by principals and circuit offices.
Altogether 361 full-time and 29 part-time candidates writing the Independent Examinations Board examination started on 20 September with life sciences and will finish writing on 29 November with their CAT.
Good luck message from the MEC for Education, Ishmael Kgetjepe:
I wish to take this opportunity to wish the Gr 12 class of 2017 good luck in their examinations. We as the department are grateful a culture of learning and teaching has been the norm in many of our schools.
We would like to thank our schools as it was evident throughout the year they were indeed working hard. The educators and learners remained in class while school governing bodies worked hard to ensure our schools are managed properly. Parents took ownership and continued to support their children’s education. This partnership has ensured conditions are in place for effective learning and teaching. On behalf of the Department of Education, we can proudly say this has been a very successful year for our learners. We urge you to work extra hard and that such hard work will be reflected in this year’s Gr 12 results.
Learners are encouraged to make use of radio lessons offered in partnership with SABC radio on Thobela FM, Munghana Lonene FM and Phalaphala FM.
To all of you, we say good luck and wish you well in the examinations.
