By Thapelo Molefe
Basic Education director-general Mathanzima Mweli is pleased with the process of marking the National Senior Certificate exam papers.
He has also praised the dedication of educators and the meticulous measures that were put in place to ensure accuracy and integrity.
Mweli visited all 183 marking centres across South Africa in 13 days as part of overseeing this critical phase of the exam, which concluded on Saturday. There were total of 50,741 markers.
Speaking to Inside Education, Mweli highlighted the seamless execution of the marking process and why the visits were important.
“The visits were intended to convey appreciation from the minister, deputy minister, and myself to the markers for their sacrifice in undertaking this exercise under very stringent and controlled conditions,” Mweli said.
“The feedback from marking centres post-visit was overwhelmingly positive.”
Mweli noted that the marking conditions including accommodation, venues, and meals met high standards, with contingency plans effectively addressing challenges like load-shedding and extreme temperatures.
The process unfolded in two staggered sessions, starting on 16 November and concluding on 14 December. It included multiple layers of quality assurance, such as moderation by senior markers, chief markers and internal moderators, coupled with external checks by the department and Umalusi.
“This rigorous process ensures the highest quality of marking,” Mweli explained.
“Every script, over 10.3 million in total, was carefully checked for completeness and accuracy before being captured on the national examination computer system.”
While Mweli expressed satisfaction with the overall NSC process, he acknowledged its emotional toll as four markers had died.
“One from the Northern Cape fell ill, another in Gauteng succumbed to injuries after a fall, a Limpopo marker passed away shortly after returning home and a fourth was a victim of a hijacking. These incidents have left us deeply saddened, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to their families,” he said.
Mweli emphasised that the strict adherence to regulations prevented any security breaches.
“Security at marking centres is tightly controlled, with clear protocols ensuring no unauthorised individuals gain access and no scripts leave the venue without authorisation,” he said.
With marking completed, the next steps included the processing and standardisation of marks by Umalusi.
Despite some challenges, Mweli affirmed confidence in the integrity of the NSC process, underscoring its critical role in upholding the credibility of South Africa’s education system.
“I am extremely satisfied with how the NSC examination processes have unfolded so far,” he told Inside Education.
The matric results will be released to candidates on 14 January.
INSIDE EDUCATION
