WENDY MOTHATA
WITH fewer than five days to go before the start of the 2022 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations for matric pupils, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) said it was well prepared after conducting matric camps across the country to assess, monitor, and motivate Grade 12 learners.
The 2022 final exams are set to start on October 31, and end on December 7, 2022.
This year’s matric cohort had Grades 10 and 11 impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted schooling.
The impact of disrupted education following the Covid-19 outbreak was devastating, with learners between 75% and a full school year behind where they should be, according to a 2021 report by humanitarian organisation, UNICEF.
Rotational attendance, sporadic school closures, and days off for specific grades, resulted in school children losing 54% of learning time.
Students have also had to deal with damaged property, and school closures following unrest which resulted in more than 140 schools being vandalized in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
On Monday, teachers unions said they were concerned about power cuts during exams.
The National Teachers’ Union (NATU) said that the supply of generators would help mitigate the impact of power interruptions during the writing of exams, especially in schools that offer computer-related subjects.
But the Director-General of DOE, Hubert Mathanzima Mweli, said the department was hoping for smooth final exams, adding that learners were eager to do very well in their exams despite some challenges.
“Learners have shown determination to do well in their upcoming exams. Let’s continue to support them at all times,” said Mweli.
As part of the NSC final exams countdown, DBE has been encouraging learners on social media by posting daily tips on how to prepare better for the final examinations.
The provincial departments have also been encouraging Grade 12 learners as they gear up for the exams.
MPUMALANGA PROVINCE|
Unveiling the State of Readiness for the Management of the Conduct of the 2022 NSC Exams, the provincial MEC for Education, Bonakele Majuba, said that all due processes have already been put in place to ensure that the 2022 examinations take place within the provided rules and regulations.
“The 2022 Grade 12 Examination will be the biggest in the history of writing such an examination process, and for this reason, we will need to be extra vigilant and more meticulous in all material aspects of managing these examinations. In total, 71,582 full-time candidates have registered to write the 2022 National Senior Certificate Examination,” said Majuba.
Majuba said it’s the first time that the province has registered such a high number.
“I must say that I am extremely encouraged and happy about it because it confirms that the majority of learners that enter our system in grade R, the majority of them do make it to Grade 12.”
The provincial department has already appointed markers, exam assistants, admins, and capturers. The department has selected the schools that will be used as exam centres and has already appointed chief invigilators.
NORTH WEST PROVINCE|
North West MEC for Education Mmaphefo Matsemela said that all the systems are now in place in terms of how the learners are going to approach the final exams During her visits at schools around the province, Matsemela said she encouraged and gave learners tactics on how they could prepare for their examinations.
FREE STATE PROVINCE|
Free State Education MEC Tate Makgoe said all hands are on deck and the department was combat-ready for the 2022 matric exams. Makgoe sad contingency measures were already in place for any eventualities.
“The issue of Eskom is really a challenge but we are trying to say to our learners don’t panic, we will do all our best to engage the powers that be. Eskom and municipalities ensure that during the time learners are writing, there shouldn’t be any disruption,” Makgoe said.
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE|
The Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe, said the department continues to improve appropriate standards and strengthen initiatives to deepen the maturity of the examination assessment system.
“We have continued to identify and curb threats to mitigate the credibility of the examination and assessment,” said van der Merwe.
KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE|
KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Education, Mbali Frazer, said with less than five days before the start of the exams, the department is ready for the assessments. “We are all here today to play both our individual and collective roles in protecting the credibility and integrity of the upcoming exams,” she said.
Frazer also committed that the Department would only use adequately trained invigilators and markers to conduct the examination.
She warned the Class of 2022 about the consequences of cheating on the exams, saying if found guilty, the learner could be disbarred from rewriting for a number of years.
Frazer also encouraged Grade 12 learners to visit local churches and temples for a Provincial Examination Prayer.
LIMPOPO PROVINCE|
The Limpopo Education Department has been on a drive to motivate learners, the provincial MEC, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya has urged learners from Sekhukhune East and South Education districts to use the remaining days to prepare thoroughly for the final matric examinations. Lerule-Ramakhanya said that the department had various intervention programmes since the beginning of the year to assist learners.
GAUTENG PROVINCE|
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has confirmed the province’s readiness for the 2022 NSC exams.
Gauteng has a total of 194 611 full-time and part-time candidates writing this year’s exams across 1 018 examination centres in the province. Gauteng’s Class of 2022 is the 15th cohort to sit for NSC exams and the third cohort to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic for three consecutive years.
They are also the fifth cohort to be exposed to a variety of new subjects.
“Our Secondary School Intervention Programme (SSIP) ensured that our matriculants are thoroughly supported by providing extensive revision lessons for gateway subjects through Saturday programmes, holiday walk-in centres, residential camps and daily live broadcasts,” said Chiloane.
Chiloane said examination centres that do not have generators will procure or rent generators to avoid the disruption that may result from a power cut.
INSIDE EDUCATION
