Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has expressed its satisfaction with the preparations for the 2012 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination.
The Committee was briefed by the Department of Basic Education on the issue. It encouraged the department to continue with its agenda of building a credible, national examination and assessment system.
The Committee also expressed its satisfaction with the systems put in place to ensure security of exams material.
The department indicated in the briefing that all Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) are ready to administer the 2012 examinations which will commence on 22 October 2012 and concludes on 28 November 2012. Results will be released on 3 January 2013
A total of 647 687 learners have enrolled in 2012 to write the exams – of these learners 527 335 have enrolled as full-time learners and 120 352 as part-time learners – compared to 623 897 learners in 2011.
A total of 230 194 full time learners have enrolled for Mathematics compared to 229 371 in 2011. More learners have also enrolled for Mathematical Literacy – 297 074 compared to 281 613 in 2011.
The Committee noted the slight decrease in Physical Sciences enrolment from 184 052 in 2011 to 182 083 in 2012.
All PEDs have introduced pre-sealing of question papers to minimise human contact with the question papers and to improve the accuracy in packing.
The department will also focus additional attention on the Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces where challenges were experienced during the year. Schools with previous irregularities will be closely monitored.
For interviews with the Chairperson or media enquiries, please contact:
Rajaa Azzakani, Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8437
Cell: 082 560 9610
E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
Basic Education happy with readiness for 2012 Matric Exams
