By Jonathan Paoli
The Basic Education Department has reported a successful start to the National Senior Certificate examinations, with all exam centres opening on time and no disruptions noted during the first day.
“We are happy with the first day of the exams,” department spokesperson Lukhanyo Vangqa told Inside Education.
Monday saw smooth operations across various provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, where authorities were on standby due to heavy rain and flooding.
Vangqa emphasised the importance of a seamless examination process, highlighting the department’s ongoing efforts to monitor the situation closely.
“There were no disruptions to any of the exams,” he said.
He added that the department would remain vigilant during the exam period.
While no major issues were reported by Monday night, the country’s biggest teacher union, Sadtu, said there were some isolated incidents impacting learners.
Sadtu spokesperson Nomusa Cembi said the union was waiting for feedback from its members across the country.
She said that in the Frances Baard region of the Northern Cape, a service delivery protest led to taxis blocking some roads.
Local officials acted swiftly to mitigate the impact on students, ensuring that exam papers were fetched and delivered to schools.
Cembi confirmed that despite the protest, the exams were not disrupted in the area.
With the exams ending on 28 November, both the department and the union are keen to ensure that learners complete their exams without further interruption.
Vangqa said the Basic Education Department would continue to prioritise effective communication and problem-solving strategies to address any potential challenges that may arise in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi confirmed that the province did not experience any serious disruptions despite the adverse weather conditions, and said the exams had kicked off with a promising start.
“It was difficult in other areas, but it did not impact the writing of the examinations. No late start was reported,” Mahlambi said told Inside Education.
Overall, the first day of matric exams has laid a solid foundation for a smooth examination period, thanks to a collaborative effort from various stakeholders to support learners.
INSIDE EDUCATION
