The National Senior Certificate examinations will begin in earnest on 25 October 2010 and the last paper will be written on 3 December 2010. The Department of Basic Education visited our province for two days to assess our state of readiness to conduct the exams. It complimented Gauteng on its determination to conduct a fair and credible examination.
Indeed, we are ready.
The exams are a huge logistical exercise with about 1.3 million question papers that need to be printed and distributed to 793 examination centres. This year, we have a total of 117 097 candidates who will sit for the final exams - 94 601 full time candidates and 22 496 part time candidates.
The higher number of part-time candidates is due in part to in-migration to the province. But also this is the second year that learners rewrite subjects under the new syllabus. Those who want to rewrite have three years to do so, as their School-Based Assessment (SBA) mark is valid for that period.
As always, security measures are in place to ensure that the integrity of the exams is not compromised. We urge learners to conduct themselves with honesty during the exam. Cheating and other exam irregularities may result in a criminal record.
Results will be released on 6 January 2011. While we cannot predict the performance of learners, we remain optimistic that we have given learners the best possible chance we could under difficult circumstances to pass these important exams.
During the September holidays, learners attended classes for revision and exam preparations. Since schools reopened for the fourth quarter, we have taken grade 12s to walk-in matric camp sites throughout the province to further help them with revision and exam preparation techniques.
We will also keep the camps running during the exams and over weekends in some areas in case learners have last minute questions that tutors can assist with. As a province we have done this to support our learners and get them as ready as they can be to sit for the final exams.
Following our success in conducting the Preliminary exams under difficult circumstances in September, we are confident that we will be able to ensure that the matric exams proceed smoothly. Marking of the prelim papers, which form part of the SBA mark, is proceeding well and will be completed soon.
To the matric class of 2010 I want firstly to congratulate them on rising above the challenges they faced over the last two months and say "your passion for learning and your commitment to focus on preparing for this important gateway in your lives has inspired us and made us more determined than ever to help you to succeed. Please continue to revise with the same focus and dedication over the next seven days. Keep calm and read the exam question carefully. Good luck."
To parents, grandparents and other family members I appeal to you to give your child extra love, care and support ahead of these matric exams. Let them know that they have your unconditional support as they face this important gateway to adult life. Remember to tell them that even if they do not do as well as you and they would have liked, this is not the end of the world. There are always other opportunities to write again and improve on their matric results.
For more information contact:
Charles Phahlane
Tel: 011 355 1530
Cell: 071 860 4496
Source: Sapa
