Free State Education MEC, Tate Makgoe, attests that state of readiness of the province for the 2010 National Senior Certificate Examinations is very positive and that the examinations will kick off next week despite trying challenges experienced during the third quarter.
It’s all systems g the province is as ready as it can be to produce reliable results at the end of the year, says Makgoe. The Grade 12 final examinations begin on 25 October and end on 3 December 2010. 316 examination centres have been registered.
The department has put all measures in place to ensure for the smooth running of the examinations. 28 505 full time learners will be sitting for the National Senior Certificate examinations, with 2037 part time repeat candidates, and 4 900 ABET Level 4 learners.
Referring to the measures taken to produce reliable results, Makgoe said the department has done all the necessary security checks and made thorough preparations in making sure that there are no question paper leakages, and that question papers will be delivered on time in all centres. The printing and packaging of question papers are done under camera surveillance and will be distributed timeously, said Makgoe.
“The Free State Department of Education prides itself in producing quality results and we are confident that this year results will even be better despite challenges such as the teachers’ strike and long holidays due to the FIFA World Cup this year.”
During the teachers’ strike and longer holidays due to the world cup, the department offered its support by implementing contingency measures such as providing learners with study guides and developing catch-up programmes in all five districts, especially targeting low performing schools.
The department redoubled its efforts to mitigate the impact of the strike and the longer-than usual holidays, and top politicians in the province undertook motivational visits across the province to prepare learners mentally for the examinations.
“In support of the Class of 2010, the province organised a prayer service for 2 500 Grade 12 learners in the province to motivate and encourage them to do their best in their final year examinations”.
Makgoe wishes the Class of 2010 well and calls on all stakeholders to offer their support to reach the 80% target set by the department.”
Enquiries:
Howard Ndaba
Cell: 079 503 5485
Source: Department of Education, Free State Provincial Government
