Matric exams off to a smooth start

DESPITE the inclement weather and load shedding, the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams got off to a smooth start in Durban on Monday with pupils writing English (P1).

On Tueday, pupils sat for economics (P1) and Afrikaans (P1) will be written today.

Speaking shortly after their economics paper, pupils at the Orient Islamic School in Greyville, said the paper was good but very long.

Muhammed Khizr Karreem, 18, of Durban North said he would have preferred more time.

“The paper was good but I would have wanted more time. It was a twohour paper. I could have done with half an hour more.”

He teased that the weather was not conducive to writing exams but rather watching movies.

“With the cold and rain, it is tough to wake up in the morning. However, I am well prepared for the exams and looking forward to ending my schooling career.”

He plans to study economics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Nazahah Essack, 17, of Musgrave, said the paper was set as she had expected.

“It was nothing I couldn’t handle. I learn mostly from past year’s papers, which is almost everything there is to study. The only surprise for me, was that we were tested on a graph – which had not been a question in the past papers, in recent years.”

She said the weather also put a damper on the exams.

Nazahah hopes to study occupational therapy at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Aisha Dzucane, 17, of Mayville, said load shedding was hampering her study times.

“The economics paper was not challenging. I had studied and revised sufficiently. However, the load shedding is a problem. I had to study for this week’s papers with the help of torches and candles.

“Unfortunately, we experience load shedding mainly in the evening. It's always colder in the evenings and without lights it’s worse.”

Aisha hopes to study towards a diploma in accounting at the Durban University of Technology next year.

Layyah Shaikh, 18, of Essenwood, said economics had initially not been her first choice to study.

“I ended up with this subject because history was not being offered. But, in the end I enjoyed the subject. I just don’t like studying. But, the paper was good.” She plans a career in teaching. The KZN Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal said 193 779 full-time and part-time candidates were sitting for the exams this year.

The province has the largest number of matric pupils writing the exams with 6 710 invigilators to manage the exam sessions in 6 343 venues.

History P1 is on Thursday, maths P1 on Friday, maths P2 on Monday, IsiZulu on Tuesday with Economics P2 in the second session, and History P2 on Wednesday.