Thousands of matrics waiting for certificates
Thousands of Eastern Cape pupils who passed their grade 12 final exams before 2016 have not yet received their National Senior Certificates.
According to the provincial department of education’s head of assessment and examinations, Mzimhle Mabona, in July 9, 580 were still waiting for their certificates as the departwho ment battled with a backlog.
Provincial education spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani said the backlogs dated back to 2011/2012.
The acting education MEC, Mlungisi Mvoko, told the Bhisho legislature two months ago that more than 400 pupils passed matric in 2017 were still waiting to receive their matric certificates.
Mvoko, who was responding to DA MPL Edmund van Vuuren’s questions in September, listed a number of reasons for the delay.
He said they included invalid identities, outstanding marks and some results had not been calculated.
On Thursday, Pulumani said some of the outstanding 2017 certificates had been issued, but did not specify how many.
In a July letter sent to acting deputy director-general Penny Vinjevold, Mabona requested approval for a budget of close to R70,000 to accommodate a team brought in for nine days in July and August to assist in clearing the backlog.
Van Vuuren said the delays in the issuing of matric certificates were stealing young people’s futures.
“It has hampered them registering at tertiary institutions, applying for bursaries and applying for jobs,” he said.