LIMPOPO – Matrics across the country will collectively give a sigh of relief today as the national final exams draw to a close. Especially learners in Limpopo will carry a bright smile that this academic year is over after their province’s questionable textbook delivery scandal and below-par results in previous years.
According to the Limpopo Department of Education, the 2013 matric exams went well and the spokesman for the department, Ms Phuti Seloba, highlighted they did not experience any hassles this year.
“Our preparations went according to plan, question papers arrived on time and there were no leaked exams papers. “More than 80 000 learners wrote this year’s exams and we are confident there will be improvements in the pass rate,” said Seloba. She added that the department started marking the papers last Monday November 25
. “Our marking experts have already finished with maths paper one,” added Seloba. Seloba’s statements brought relief to most locals as the province was among those that were a concern to Umalusi (the exam watchdog). There were reports that Umalusi feared there might be glitches in the smooth running of exams because the education department was under administration.
During the exams Steelburger/Lydenburg News visited several schools in and around Tubatse. Principals and learners were pleased with the exam arrangements. “We seldom hear of reports of papers being leaked, or arriving late but this year our school never experienced such problems. I applaud the department; it’s now up to us to pass,” said Matshidiso Mpheti of Mmiditsi Secondary. Principal of Sehlaku Jacob Moshoana also confirmed that his school did not experience exam-related problems.
Meanwhile basic education minister Angie Motshekga said the only problems reported were minor. “There had been however no major problems, we are happy to report that thus far this year’s National Senior Certificate (NCS) has seen no major incidents. We only received reports of pupils falling sick; being caught with cellphones and an earth tremor in Johannesburg,” the minister told the media last Friday.
Marking will commence in all provinces on December 1. The matric results for Limpopo will be announced on January 6.
For the Mpumalanga province, everything seemed to go according to plan as well. The Mpumalanga Department of Education recently announced they were satisfied with the way it had progressed so far. “There have been no challenges reported since the examination commenced on October 28,” Mandisa Ndlovu, media liaison and monitoring communication officer of the Mpumalanga Department of Education said.
The examination will conclude with consumer studies, hospitality studies and sport and exercise science today (November 29).
“We urge our learners to stay focused and study until the last paper,” the MEC for Education, Mrs Reginah Mhaule said.
“We are thankful to all whose task it is to make sure that everything progresses as expected, living no stone unturned to deliver an incident free and credible examination”, Mhaule said.
Marking in Mpumalanga will commence on November 29, 2013 in 18 marking centres, including Hoërskool Lydenburg, and the results will be announced on 07 January 7, 2014.
