By Johnathan Paoli
Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has expressed confidence and determination over the readiness of KwaZulu-Natal for the upcoming 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
With just days to go before the exams commence, the province is prepared to support 172,433 full-time and 34,986 part-time candidates as they approach this critical milestone in their education.
During his address on Thursday in Durban, Ntuliemphasised the significance of the exams, saying they not only represented a test of knowledge, but were a culmination of years of hard work and the aspirations of families across the province.
“As our learners prepare to sit behind the desk, they will be carrying the dreams, hopes and prayers of entire families,” he said.
The premier expressed his confidence in the education department led by MEC Sipho Hlomuka.
“We can say with no hesitation that our province is combat-ready to administer the 2024 NSC examinations,” Ntuli said.
He attributed this readiness to the meticulous planning and groundwork laid throughout the academic year, building on the successes of the Class of 2023, which achieved a pass rate of 86%, making KZN the second-best performing province in the country.
To improve upon last year’s results, the department developed a comprehensive 2024 academic improvement plan, aiming for a minimum pass rate of 90%.
This involved tailored strategies from each of the province’s 12 districts, particularly targeting schools that previously scored below 40%.
Ntuli highlighted various initiatives undertaken to prepare learners, including a winter classes programme that ran from late June to early July, accommodating nearly 99,000 learners across 1,001 centres.
These sessions focused on curriculum coverage, revision and effective study methods.
Furthermore, additional support has been provided through weekend tuition sessions and spring boot camps targeting subjects where learners historically faced challenges.
Ntuli said the department has also conducted monitoring visits to ensure that the academic improvement plan was effectively implemented in all districts.
In discussing the logistics of the examination process, Ntuli outlined the scale of the operation: 120 question papers will be printed, totalling around 30 million copies, and 27 morning and 27 afternoon sessions will take place across various examination centres.
The distribution of materials will occur through 13 nodal points and 103 collection centres. Marking is set to commence at the beginning of December.
Emphasising the importance of integrity in the examination process, Ntuli assured that stringent measures were in place to prevent irregularities, including inspections of printing facilities.
He also announced that all matriculants would sign a pledge on Friday, committing to uphold the credibility of the examination process.
Ntuli expressed his gratitude to educators, parents and all stakeholders for their dedication and support leading up to the exams.
He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the provincial legislature and the Basic Education Department and concluded with a message of encouragement for the Class of 2024.
“Do your best and you will certainly deliver the best performance in the 2024 NSC examination,” the premier said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
