Matric exams tougher than previously?
With the matric results published last week, last year's gr. 12s can breath a sigh of relief, but only 11 months from now this year's gr. 12s will have to jump this important hurdle again.
POLOKWANE – With the matric results published last week, last year’s gr. 12s can breath a sigh of relief, but only 11 months from now this year’s gr. 12s will have to jump this important hurdle again.
Review spoke to some residents to find out what they thought about these exams and whether they thought they were easier compared to 10 years ago.
Lucky Taulela said he thought the gr. 12 exams were more difficult because of the role new technology played in people’s lives. “The media plays an enormous role today. Learners focus more on social media than on their work,” he said.
He said when he was in gr. 12, social networks weren’t as popular and he and his friends could study without interruptions.
Tanya Roets was in gr. 12 in 2006. She said she thought it was easier to be in gr. 12 now than it was then. “Learners do not have to go to a library to get information, it is much easier to just switch on the computer.”
However, she said, she thought it could also be more difficult, as learners did not always have money to access the internet.
Martha Mamabolo was uncertain about the difficulty of the current gr. 12 exam papers. “What I have heard is that the standard is not very high. If the child cannot do the tasks, the parents do it for them,” she said.
Zelda Kichenbarnd was in gr. 12 in 1992 and said the learners were given too much to do these days.
“I think gr. 12 is harder than it was all those years ago.”
Lerato Makama, who did gr. 12 in 2007, said learners had it easier topday as they had more access to information.
“The only thing that is bad for them is that teachers tend to strike more and then they, the children, lose valuable time.”
Lettie Mokgohloa also said she thought learners in gr. 12 had it easier these days.
“They have the opportunity to build their marks throughout the year.”
Nicolese Siemelink said the gr. 12 exams get harder as the years go by.
“I have three boys who wrote the end exams three years apart and with each one it became more and more difficult.”
