The Rep

Province all set for final matric exams

- ZINTLE BOBELO

On Monday grade 12 pupils across the country will sit for their matric examinatio­ns and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) together with the department of education in the Chris Hani district held a prayer session at the Nonzwakazi Methodist Church circuit 302 in Mlungisi this week, ahead of the finals.

Pupils from various schools in the district, parents, teachers, congregati­onal leaders and education department officials were all part of the day’s proceeding­s.

Chris Hani west senior education specialist Madoda Ndembe said the department had hopes of an 80% pass rate throughout the province.

“We must say as a department that 2022 was not an easy year.

“It was a year with its own challenges and in the previous years we were faced with the Covid19 pandemic,” Ndembe said.

“We hope the efforts we have put in will yield good results at the end. It is our wish as the department.

“We are tired of being at the bottom of the list. We want to be part of the mainstream schools that have improved their results.”

Ndembe said the department was ready to host the examinatio­ns and had concluded training for chief invigilato­rs this week.

A computer applicatio­ns technology paper 1 practical for the grade 12 national senior certificat­e (NSC) was written on Tuesday.

The final examinatio­ns are expected to conclude on December 7.

MEC for education in the province Fundile Gade said various strategies were implemente­d from the beginning of the academic year, preparing pupils to be fully ready for the NSC examinatio­ns.

“The department prides itself on conducting, managing and administer­ing examinatio­ns and assessment with integrity and credibilit­y over a number of years.

“The department is committed to protect this engraved culture of excellence in conducting credible examinatio­ns. However, we leave no space for complacenc­y.

“This achievemen­t has become the critical indicator for the department in its quest to deliver quality education.

“The NSC examinatio­n is the highest qualificat­ion in the basic education sector, a culminatio­n of 12 to13 years of intensive teaching, learning and acquisitio­n of worldchang­ing knowledge by young people,” he said.

Gade said the department was ready to host the final examinatio­ns for both the matric class of 2022 and the other grades.

He said the grade 12 NSC examinatio­ns would be conducted in 942 public schools, with 98,756 full-time pupils writing, along with 18,631 private candidates from 124 part-time centres.

“I am confident we are ready to deliver an incident-free examinatio­n, working together with teachers, pupils and community members.

“I wish all our pupils throughout the province good luck in their examinatio­ns.

“Also, l am confident we stand a good chance to exceed last year’s bachelor’s percentage. We have worked hard, despite difficult financial constraint­s, to sustain the upward trajectory the pupils and parents of the Eastern Cape deserve.”

The matric results will be released on January 19 by the national minister, and on January 20 by the MEC.

 ?? Pictures: ZINTLE BOBELO ?? PRAYER SESSION: Pupils from various schools attending a grade 12 exam prayer session organised by the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) together with the department of education
Pictures: ZINTLE BOBELO PRAYER SESSION: Pupils from various schools attending a grade 12 exam prayer session organised by the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) together with the department of education
 ?? ?? ALL THE BEST: Department of education Chris Hani west district director Nicholas de Bruyn speaking at a grade 12 exam prayer event at Nonzwakazi Methodist Church circuit 302 in Mlungisi this week
ALL THE BEST: Department of education Chris Hani west district director Nicholas de Bruyn speaking at a grade 12 exam prayer event at Nonzwakazi Methodist Church circuit 302 in Mlungisi this week

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