All systems in place for 2024 matric examinations, says Gwarube
On Sunday, Gwarube briefed the media on the department’s readiness, contingency plans, and strategies to ensure a smooth examination process for both the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) exams.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube briefs the media on the budgetary cuts in the education sector on 25 September 2024. Picture: Supplied/@DBE_SA on X
JOHANNESBURG - Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said all systems are in place for 2024’s matric examinations.
On Sunday, Gwarube briefed the media on the department’s readiness, contingency plans, and strategies to ensure a smooth examination process for both the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) exams.
This comes as grade 12 pupils from public and private schools begin their exams on Monday.
The minister said stricter measures were in place to prevent cheating, leaks, and disruptions.
READ: Matric pupils warned against cheating ahead of exams
“The setting, printing, and distribution of papers has been completed, with a total of 162 quality-assured papers approved by Umalusi for this year’s NSC exams. Taking lessons from previous instances of editing errors, the department has introduced additional quality gates for an extra layer of checks."
Gwarube also reassured the public that the department had implemented comprehensive measures to ensure the exams ran smoothly.
"In terms of security, the department has taken extensive precautions to safeguard the integrity of the examination process.”
The Department of Basic Education said it had appointed 55,000 qualified markers to ensure accurate grading, as nearly a million candidates prepare to sit for the 2024 matric exams.
Gwarube also highlighted the department’s efforts to safeguard the integrity of the exams.
“As a department, we will monitor 6,334 public schools and 575 independent centres where examinations will be conducted. To ensure the integrity of exams, we have deployed 70 part-time monitors to oversee high-risk centres.
"Additionally, at least 70% of examination centres will be monitored per session. These efforts will help to prevent irregularities such as group copying or leakage of examination papers.”