The Department of Basic Education emphatically refutes the assertion reported in the Sowetan on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 that the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshegka, MP, will consider adjusting the results of the Grade 12 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. This assertion is both damaging and mischievous.
The Minister has no intention, authority or mechanism to adjust the marks of the National Senior Certificate examinations. The Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi) has the sole statutory mandate to ensure that the examination results that are released are credible and that all processes have met its own exacting standards. South African NSC results are not only quality assured to meet South African standards, but are also judged against international benchmarks.
The department has consistently worked to ensure the integrity, credibility and legitimacy of the examinations. The results over the years are a true reflection of learner achievement. The department has an obligation to South Africa to ensure that the examination processes from beginning to end are conducted fairly and without any external, political interference whatsoever.
Given that the 2010 NSC examination will be ending on Friday, 3 December 2010 and has proceeded smoothly with the least number of challenges compared to any other year. This is notwithstanding the fact that this is the largest public examination conducted in the history of South Africa (more than 642 000 candidates enrolled).
It is important to remind South Africans of the process of standardisation through which the raw marks are tested that is conducted under the auspices of Umalusi. On 24 December 2010 Umalusi will convene the standardisation meeting at which the performance in each subject will be analysed statistically and qualitatively to ensure that the current performance is in keeping with performance in previous years. This standardisation process follows international best practice and is a procedure that is carried out across examination systems worldwide. From 24 December until 30 December 2010 the checking of the preliminary results will take place, involving Umalusi, and the national and provincial education departments.
On 30 December 2010 the Umalusi Council will convene a meeting to approve the NSC results and will hold a press conference where a declaration on the integrity and credibility of the results will be made. The approval is based on reports from various quality assurance initiatives focussing on the examination system. Special attention is paid to irregularities that may compromise examinations.
Only once all procedures are completed and Umalusi is satisfied and certifies the integrity of the results will the examination results be released to the public on 6 January 2011.
The department wishes to assure South Africans and particularly the Class of 2010 that the examination results of 2010 will be credible and a true and authentic reflection of learners’ achievement. The department indeed does recognise the extraordinary additional effort of the majority of teachers, learners and parents to enhance the performance of the Class of 2010.
Enquiries:
Granville Whittle
Cell: 072 148 9575
Source: Department of Basic Education
