Gauteng ready for matric exams
2009-10-04 21:49
Johannesburg - With 22 days to go before over 100 000 Gauteng matrics sit for their end-of-year exams, preparations are on track, provincial education MEC Barbara Creecy said on Sunday.
"A total of 101 218 full-time and 8 117 part-time repeater candidates will be sitting for the senior certificate examination in 790 centres across the province," she said in a statement.
"We are proud and confident to announce that we will deliver credible examinations to our Grade 12 learners in Gauteng."
Creecy said the number of full-time candidates was up by 2 234 because of the incorporation of 10 schools in Merafong, which originally sat under the North West department of education.
She also said there had been a "marginally improved" flow-through rate of students.
Of the full time candidates, 46 042 were male and 55 176 were female.
Exams would officially start on October 26 and end on December 4.
However, practical exams for computer application technology and information technology would take place next week.
Marking was scheduled to start on November 21 and was expected to be completed by December 15.
Security a priority
Creecy also said people could phone through any suspected serious irregularities on 011-355-0592.
"Security in the storage and delivery of question papers is a priority."
She said the department had been working closely with the police to tighten security at printing facilities and district offices.
Creecy also said the printing and packaging of question papers was "at an advanced stage".
She said district exams personnel in all 15 districts had been trained on monitoring and invigilation, irregularity procedures and concessions.
Oral, practical and school-based assessment processes were being monitored and moderated to ensure they were properly carried out.
Creecy also said 144 schools in disadvantaged areas had been identified as requiring additional support.
Task teams had been set up to assist these schools. Saturday and holiday classes would start on Monday.
"For example in Meadowlands, Dobsonville and part of Orlando, the department has organised two centres where all Grade 12 learners of these areas will attend a vigorous revision programme run by our Johannesburg West district for the whole month of October."
Creecy said the ten schools in Merafong would retain their North West centre numbers, under the Gauteng department, so that the linking of repeat candidates could be done.
- SAPA
