WHITE RIVER – Members of the community are urged to support the more than 58 510 matric learners and the rest of school-going children during their forthcoming end-of-year exams.

The department of education in the province aims to achieve this year’s matric results by 10% from the previous year’s 70,2 % achieved by the class of 2012 and this could be achieved through team-work between learners, teachers, parents and members of the community at large.

“We urged parents to limit the number of work load done by their children so they could have enough time to focus on their studies. We also urge members of the community, including churches and other entertainment organizers not to hold functions that will draw learners’ attention from their books at this time.

“We urge the community to give learners time and space to concentrate on their books,” said MEC for Education, Ms Reginah Mhaule.

She was addressing journalists from different media houses and senior education officials during a media conference on the state of readiness for the management of the 2013 Grade 12 examinations at Ingwenyama Lodge on September 3.

“We can still do more within the remaining few days before the start of the examinations for the Grade 12 learners. I request parents and family members to give intensive practical support to all their children during this time,” said Mhaule.

“Furthermore, learners must be encouraged to study relentlessly until the last day of the exams,” she said.

She added that through the STARS programme the department implemented focused programmes to support underperforming schools in the province.

“These schools were subjected to monthly assessments, winter and spring classes and they participated in the provincially set trial examinations. They also received special support visits. They should be in a position to turn the corner,” she said.

Mhaule said customised intervention programmes were also put in place to help learners from municipalities where there were activities such as the Initiation Schools (Ingoma) and political unrests such areas as Nkangala district, Bushbuckridge, Dr JS Moroka and Thembisile Hani local municipality.

“In Nkangala, learners covered much of the work before the start of Ingoma and we are confident that the results will not drop. We are sure that results in Nkangala will improve because of our pro-activeness,” she emphasised.

She added that weekly radio lessons and motivational sessions aired by SABC and community radio stations, the dial-a-tutor’s programme and the extra and weekend classes conducted in school were all means of getting learners ready for the exams.

Mhaule also urged learners to constantly interact with their teachers and ask them for clarity where they don’t understand.

She also urged all churches to pray for the success and protection of learners against all evil forces and sickness during this time of the year.

It was also heard that the number of this year’s matric candidates significantly increased by 3517 to 58 517 from the previous year’s 55 000 candidates. Ehlanzeni district registered the highest number with 17 158, followed by Nkangala with 15 738, followed by Bohlabela with 13 285 and Gert Sibande with a total of 12 823 candidates.

The first paper will be written on October 28 and the last paper will be written on November 29.