The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has revealed that the 2022 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results will be provided to matric candidates on Friday, 20 January 2023.
One day before the release of results to candidates at schools and examination centres, the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga will announce the NSC results for the country which includes revealing provincial pass rates and the number and types of matric passes.
Stakeholders have raised concerns regarding the date on which candidates will receive their results as it is late in the month. These concerns stem from candidates who require their final NSC results to register at tertiary education institutions like universities and colleges.
DBE spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga says an increase in the number of matric candidates has had an impact on when results are released. In 2022, more than 929,000 candidates participated in the NSC examinations.
Mhlanga says the increase in the number of candidates also increases the education department’s workload which requires more time.
They add that they are still feeling the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. They explain that the school year started later in 2021 and 2022. This ultimately had a knock-on effect on the education system.
Mhlanga said, “The late start in 2022 had a knock-on effect which means the week that we lost, is the week that affected everything else that we're doing in the system, the exam started late as well and they ended later than usual.”
The DBE will be reviewing when matric results are released in the coming years. This is because an earlier release of matric results to candidates will give them more time to register at tertiary education institutions.
Mhlanga adds that universities do receive matric results a few days before learners and therefore begin addressing learners. However, they argue that the date on which matric results are released does not have much of an impact as learners would have submitted university and college applications months before they receive their results.
Tertiary Education institutions will provisionally accept or reject an application. They may then require the applicant to submit their final results to finalise their application and registration.
Several challenges were faced during the 2022 NSC examinations. This included loadshedding and community protests. This resulted in some delays, however, this will not impact the delivery of results to learners.
Eastern Cape Education spokesperson Vuyiseka Mboxela says while these challenges were faced, learners ultimately were able to complete their examinations.
Mboxela explained that schools changed examination times for subjects that required the use of computers to ensure that learners could complete their examinations on the days which they were scheduled to be written.
The Eastern Cape was also severely impacted by flooding which prevented some learners from attending their schools. Mboxela says the education district directed learners to an adjacent school to ensure they would be able to complete their examinations.
