Sick matric pupil to do exams in hospital
2012-10-22 13:14
Johannesburg - Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga visited a sick matric pupil at Pretoria East Hospital on Monday morning, an official said.
The 19-year-old pupil from Flora Park Comprehensive School in Polokwane, Limpopo, was determined to pass matric despite his ailment, spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi said.
Lesufi said he was admitted to the hospital because of a chronic illness and he would sit his exams at the hospital.
The pupil wrote to the department asking for permission to write the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations in the hospital where he was being treated.
He was among the 120 352 part-time pupils who would sit for the NSC in 2012.
Meanwhile, various organisations wished matriculants well as they started writing their final exams on Monday.
"Despite the problems caused by the department of basic education during the course of this whole year, we trust that you were preparing yourselves throughout these difficult times to cover up the lost time caused by the ministry of basic education," the Pan Africanist Congress said in a statement.
The SA Democratic Teachers' Union said: "A quality pass widens one's chances of better career choices."
However, Sadtu expressed its disappointment at the low number of matric pupils writing maths.
"We urge government to put more resources in the teaching of critical subjects like languages and mathematics, because these are needed for the improvement of our country," it said.
Parliament's portfolio committee on basic education encouraged parents, family, friends, and teachers to give pupils the support they needed to successfully complete their exams.
Committee chairperson Hope Malgas said the committee was confident the department would administer the exams in a credible manner.
The Democratic Alliance in the City of Johannesburg also sent best wishes to the matriculants.
"The matrics of 2012 are our first born free generation and we hope that they have prepared well, worked hard, and will continue to do their best until their last paper," said DA spokesperson Mmusi Maimane.
The 2012 matric examinations will end on November 28. The results will be released on January 3 2013.
A total of 647 687 pupils have enrolled to write the exams. Of these, 527 335 have enrolled as full-time pupils and 120 352 as part-time pupils.
- SAPA
