Pens down for class of 2014

IT’S PENS down for the 2014 matric class with today being the official last exam day.

Pupils yesterday sat for consumer studies, hospitality studies, dramatic arts and mechanical technology.

Today's exams include agricultural technology, nautical science paper two and dance studies.

Provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said the department had enjoyed problem-free exams from start to finish.

The only major incident, Mtima said, was the stabbing to death of a matric pupil from Abambo Senior Secondary School in the Queenstown district on Tuesday (see story on this page).

Terence Khala, from the Department of Basic Education, said exams across the country had gone smoothly with no major irregularities to report.

The department was now ready to begin with marking at various centres across the country.

The results will be released on January 5. Principals were upbeat about the expected results.

Anton Peenz, principal of De Vos Malan in King William’s Town, said the exam period had been excellent.

“The kids wrote well and they enjoyed it all the way. The department really played along and there were no shortages or cases of late papers. Everything went very well,” Peenz said.

Queen’s College acting principal Mike Booi was happy with the way the exams had gone.

“With regards to the difficulty, we can't really complain.

“The only paper which was a bit tricky was the maths paper one. My pupils didn't complain about any other exam,” Booi said.

Gcinumzi Kenana, from Langalethu Senior Secondary School in Cofimvaba, said all had gone smoothly. “We are just waiting for the results now,” he said.

Marking will be done in 15 marking centres from December 1 to 13 by 3 790 markers. —