“The Mpumalanga Department of Education [DoE] has done everything humanly possible to prepare the learners for the 2024 National Senior Certificate Examination [NSC] and for the management of the examinations to be successful and without any glitches,” said the Mpumalanga MEC for education, Cathy Dlamini, at a press conference at the Word of Life Bible Church in Shatale in Bushbuckridge on Thursday, October 17.

The examination starts nationwide on Monday, October 21, and lasts until November 26.

The DoE registered 77 811 candidates for the examination. These consist of 67 231 full-time and 10 684 part-time candidates. Some 575 chief and deputy invigilators have been appointed and trained.

There are 575 examination centres, including 40 independent schools, spread across the four education districts, namely Bohlabela, Ehlanzeni, Nkangala and Gert Sibande.

Dlamini said authorisation has been granted for some schools with space challenges to use alternative venues such as churches and community halls. She said monitoring of the examination is strengthened.

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“All our monitors have been trained to detect various irregularities. Resident monitors have been allocated to high-risk centres. As a proactive measure, monitors will work around the clock to ensure no irregularities take place. An daily online reporting system will be utilised by both monitors and chief invigilators to provide a quick status of the exam of the province. The department takes a zero-tolerance approach to any form of irregularities in this examination, and the provincial examination irregularity committee has been activated.”

Dlamini has urged parents and communities to be mindful of the significance and positive impact of this examination and to play an active role towards its success.

“We are making a plea to community members to desist from any action that may have the potential of disrupting this examination. The DoE is working collaboratively with the provincial security cluster. Printing is done using more improved print equipment that has less human intervention and all storage points have been audited for security compliance and were accredited accordingly.”

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Dlamini said the NSC examination marking will commence at 21 marking centres on December 1 and end on December 13, while the final mark capturing is expected to take place on December 16. A total of 5 294 markers have already been selected and are expected to receive their appointment letters on October 18. The results will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony at the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality’s Banquet Hall in Middelburg on January 16.

“To all the candidates, remember the words of Jim Ryun: ‘Motivation is what sets you in motion, habits are what keeps you going.’ With these words, I urge all of you to strive to maintain good habits of hard work, pride, determination and resilience throughout this examination,” she concluded.