By Anita Dangazele
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced on Sunday that her department is ready for the 2024 matric exams, which start on Monday.
Speaking to the media in Pretoria, Gwarube said, “The setting, printing, and distribution of question papers has been completed with a total of 162 quality-assured papers approved for this year’s NSC exam. Taking lessons from previous instances of editing errors, the department has introduced additional quality gates for extra layer of checks.”
She explained that strong security measures have been put in place to protect the exams. “We have completed audits of all storage facilities across the country to ensure they meet the required standards for secure handling of examination material,” she said.
Gwarube also mentioned that trucks carrying the exam papers will be tracked, and at least 70% of exam centres will be monitored to prevent cheating or exam leaks.
Over 720,000 full-time and 155,000 part-time students across South Africa will be writing the matric exams, with another 16,000 students taking exams through the Independent Examination Board.
The exams will run from 21 October to 27 November.
She also confirmed that students with disabilities are well-supported, saying, “Special accommodations, including Braille papers, large print, and South African Sign Language adaptations, have been made to ensure that these learners also have the resources and support they need to succeed.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa wished the class of 2024 well for their exams.
“Matric is quite a challenging exam but I know that our matriculants are up to it. You’ve all been working very hard in preparing for these exams so I wish you the very best of luck. Many who have written these exams before you have done very well, I know you will not disappoint. You will also do very well and get those distinctions,” Ramaphosa said.
Pictured above: Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube addressing the media on the department’s state of readiness for the 2024 NSC Exams.
Source: X
This story has been updated.
