Grade 12 learners wrote their first exam paper on Monday. Picture: Timothy Bernard/Independent Newspapers
The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube addressed the National Assembly outlining her department's readiness for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
She said on Monday, over 800,000 learners sat for the very first exam across the country.
Gwarube confirmed approximately 400 learners who were due to write Computer Science were affected on Tuesday by adverse weather conditions and floods in the Eastern Cape.
She said the province is exploring how these learners can be catered for in a way that would not disadvantage them.
“Members should note that, for every paper set, Umalusi sets and approves several alternative papers for exactly these types of circumstances. Besides this incident, Honourable Members, it is all systems go for the rest of the exams. These exams are a collective responsibility. We owe it to our learners, their families, and the future of our country to ensure the smooth and credible execution of the NSC exams. Besides the National and Local Government elections, I cannot think of any national logistical undertaking of the magnitude of the NSC Exams,” Gwarube said.
“Over 700,000 full-time candidates and over 155,000 part-time candidates will sit for these examinations. This is the highest number of matriculants who have ever sat for the final exams. It is a significant milestone for our education system, and we are determined that it is met with the highest standards of preparation, fairness, and integrity.”
The Class of 2024 are a group of learners who faced unprecedented disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This class was in Grade 8 in 2020 when we were hit with the largest public health crisis in over 100 years. The disruptions caused by the pandemic to the school system cannot be understated. We lost a significant amount of teaching time. Despite these challenges, the Department of Basic Education took decisive mitigations to recover the lost teaching and learning time and to plug knowledge gaps in our learners. These measures were part of our Learning Recovery Programme, which was designed specifically to address the setbacks caused by the pandemic,” Gwarube said.
Learners were provided with diagnostic reports, past question papers, and study materials to support their exam preparation. Across all provinces, extra tuition classes have been held on weekends, and in the afternoons, offering learners the opportunity to close any gaps and build their confidence.
Gwarube said partnerships with provinces have been instrumental in making sure exam centres are secure, logistical preparations are complete, and the necessary resources are distributed on time.
“As we approached the start of the exams, we launched "The Last Push", a final, targeted effort to help learners address any remaining gaps. This initiative focuses on areas identified during trial exams, offering group sessions, weekend classes, extra online resources, and additional practice with past exam papers. We are committed to leaving no learner behind, particularly those in rural and under-resourced communities. I call upon all South African parents, communities, and stakeholders to support our learners during this critical period. They need a conducive environment, free from distractions, where they can perform to the best of their abilities,” Gwarube said.
Over 55,000 markers have been recruited and trained and will be stationed in 188 marking centres across the provinces.
“We will be monitoring over 6,000 public schools and almost 600 independent centres where examinations will be conducted. To ensure the integrity of the exams, we have deployed 70 part-time monitors to oversee high-risk centres. We have also implemented strict security protocols to safeguard against potential misconduct or malpractice by learners or teachers.
“Examination officials have also been trained to identify and respond to any irregularities, and we are closely collaborating with law enforcement agencies to secure exam centres, especially in high-risk areas,” Gwarube said.
She also addressed combating fake news and confirmed there has been no papers leaked.
“We have seen a rise in deep fake videos purporting to be leaks of our 2024 question papers and memos. The documents featured in these videos are in fact old documents that were digitally altered to look like official 2024 papers. This has caused a lot of unnecessary confusion and panic and should not be allowed to impact on the integrity of the NSC exams.
“I would like to state here, Honourable Members, that our question papers and memos have not leaked. The public needs to exercise caution and be vigilant when accessing and using information shared by unofficial accounts on social media. I urge all South Africans, including the media, to rely only on verified communications from the Department of Basic Education, Umalusi and Provincial Education Departments to ensure that only credible and reliable information is relied on,” Gwarube said.
She said the department was fully aware of the potential risks that can compromise the integrity of the examination process and they continue to monitor and detect for any any potential risks that may require early interventions.
“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who have made these exams possible: Provincial Education Departments, school governing bodies, examination officials, invigilators, and our law enforcement partners. Your collaboration is essential to ensuring a seamless process. I also want to thank our social partners who have provided free access to content for our learners, and the non-governmental organisations, faith-based institutions, and community organisations that have supported our learners and their families throughout,” Gwarube said.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL