Matric exams dilemma for 603 Eswatini pupils
SITEKI – Dilemma!
The future of at least 603 Eswatini pupils doing Matric hangs in the balance, as the South African Department of Basic Education has stopped them from sitting their examination this year.
The country’s Matric Examinations Coordinator, Thamie Silindza, described this matter as a complicated one.
He then referred further comments to U-Tech High School Head teacher Boy Khumalo.
“Honestly, this is a complicated matter. I am tasked with running the Matric examination programme, but it will be appropriate that you contact our principal. This year, we have 603 pupils who are supposed to sit their Matric exams at the centre, according to the register I have,” he said.
Confirmed
Khumalo confirmed that they received a communiqué from Umalusi, in South Africa (SA), informing them that Eswatini had been omitted from siting Matric examinations this year.
Umalusi is the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, which sets and monitors standards for general and further education and training in SA in accordance with the national qualifications.
Umalusi accredits private providers of education and training, as well as private assessment bodies to offer tuition and assessment for qualifications.
It is also responsible for the quality assurance of assessment in Grade XII and issues the National Senior Certificate to successful candidates.
Khumalo said he was in constant communication with their SA counterpart, and the local Ministry of Education and Training after he relayed the latest developments to the Minister, Lady Mabuza.
The local centre, U-Tech High School, normally hosts Matric exams for pupils from 10 schools locally, namely; Milestone, Mbalenhle Academy, Diamond Valley, Harrolds, Pro-Learning and Phumelela.
The rest are Hillside, Wem, Bookville and the host (U-Tech High). Khumalo stated that the local ministry was engaging its counterpart in SA, under the tutelage of Angie Motshekga.
He shared that according to his understanding, sitting Matric exams for the local pupils was supposed to end this year.
He mentioned that they had communicated to the schools’ head teachers that next year, there would be no exams.
The administrator said he was not certain, for now, what to do next, but was optimistic that their pupils would be allowed to sit the exams for the last time this year, as they continued to