Scrapping of supplementary exams to improve pass rate

MBOMBELA – There will be no supplementary matric examinations in February, however, a full exam period will take place in May and June 2019.

The spokesman for the national Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga recently explained that supplementary exams will be scrapped completely and replaced with a second national examination period in May and June.

Mhlanga said this is an effort to improve the matric pass rate and create more opportunities for learners.

“We want to create a better opportunity for more people. We found that of those that qualified, fewer registered and even smaller numbers actually came through to sit for the supplementary exams, simply because they didn’t have enough time to prepare for them,” he said.

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Supplementary exams have in the past been written in February, only weeks after matric candidates receive their results in January. With the introduction of the June exams, candidates will have enough time to prepare for them.

Jasper Zwane, spokesman for the provincial Department of Education said the province will be ready for the June exams which will allow candidates to write as many papers as they wish.

“Unlike the supplementary exams, which allow a candidate to rewrite only two subjects, the June exams will allow them to write as many subjects as they wish, or all their subjects,” he said.

He said candidates may rewrite subjects they have passed, but would like to
improve on.

Matric examinations are currently taking place in 555 examination centres in the province. A total of 58 401 candidates have registered in Mpumalanga.