Ready, set, GO! for matric exams

THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, which will have the highest number of candidates writing the Grade 12 exams, said it was all systems go for the exams, which start on Wednesday.

The province has 170 631 registered candidates that will sit the 2016 NSC exams, which will end on November 29.

Pupils will start with their English paper on Wednesday, and maths on Friday, and they will write the science paper on November 4.

Department spokesman Sihle Mlotshwa said they had put in place a number of interventions to improve the results, and had high hopes.

Last year, KwaZulu-Natal was the third-worst-performing province in the country after its results collapsed by almost 10%, going from around 70% the year before to around 60%.

“We have worked hard with our stakeholders to improve the performance of our learners and we have done everything to ensure security,” said Mlotshwa.

The national Department of Basic Education said a total of 677 141 registered full-time and 150 183 part-time candidates would see a total of 9 216 additional candidates from the number that sat last year.

It said it had provided support by tracking the scholars’ performance and assisting progressed pupils.

The department said it was finalising issues of security. All exam centres would be audited by the Provincial Education Department, while centres classified as ‘’high risk’’ would receive greater priority.

The department said all storage points across the country had either been audited or were in the final stages of being audited.

“There have been summer camps, winter camps and sprint camps in every province to ensure pupils have more time to learn and sufficient time to revise,” said the department’s spokesman, Elijah Mhlanga.

Meanwhile, the South African National Civic Organisation appealed yesterday for no disruption of schooling to allow the matric class of 2016 to write exams in a peaceful environment.

“We wish all learners the very best and call on them to stay focused and not to be distracted from the task at hand,” Sanco national spokesman Jabu Mahlangu said.

“Community protests must be temporarily suspended, or their planning must take into account that disruption of schooling and the transport system will adversely affect pupils who are on the verge of achieving a qualification that will open opportunities.”