Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube held a media briefing on Wednesday afternoon and provided an update on recent developments within the education sector. The briefing took place as Grade 12 learners nationwide are currently sitting for their 2024 final Matric Examinations.
The Minister announced:
I am pleased to report thus far that the administration of this year’s NSC exams has been progressing well. We’ve showcased the strengths and resilience of our systems. These exams mark a very critical milestone for our learners who have spent years working for this moment and I’m pleased to say that so far, our systems are holding up well, even under pressure.
"The Department has taken comprehensive measures to safeguard the integrity of the exams, ensuring that every learner has a fair, consistent and supportive experience," she said.
The Matric examinations period for the 2024 school year is now 12 days in with 104 of 181 question papers written so far. This indicates that 58% of the exams have been completed and we are over the halfway point.
Gwarube confirmed that the department is ready to adapt to unforeseen challenges. She gave insight into some incidents which have been experienced as the exams continue.
Final Matric Exam Disruptions
Five schools have been affected by taxi strikes but all candidates were able to write. In Limpopo, there were 12 days of protests which lead to matrics having to be escorted by police to school to be able to write their exams.
Some matric exams have been disrupted by severe weather conditions in Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape. In response, the Minister confirmed that contingency plans were implemented for learners to write.
Some schools also experienced power outages. The Department responded to these challenges with the use of backup generators.
Another incident which disrupted the final matric examination period, one learner was unable to finish their exams as they were arrested due to being a suspect in an armed robbery case.
Crib notes and phones were found and these learners will suffer the consequences, said the Minister. Two imposter candidates were also found and arrested.
Our op systems have been designed to preempt and resolve challenges quickly. From distributing exam papers to the management of security and supervision, our dedicated teams are actively monitoring each phase of the exam process.
5 Matric Learners Raped
Recently, news broke that five grade 12 learners were raped in the Eastern Cape. “In response to this tragedy, the department has prioritised psychosocial support for the affected learners, ensuring that they have access to counselling and trauma services,” said the Minister.
Gwarube proclaimed that this further highlights the need to safeguard learners from gender-based violence within and outside of schools. The Department will work with law enforcement to investigate this case and make sure the perpetrators are brought to hand.
Learners Suffering From Food Poisoning
Multiple cases of food poisoning of learners have been reported. Learners were found to have ingested contaminated foods, leading to sickness and even death. “We are taking this matter very seriously,” said the Minister as she urged the public to be careful when handling pesticides.
The Department is working with the Department of Health to develop safety guidelines for schools on how to mitigate these pesticides from entering school environments and to spread awareness of the risks of mishandling pesticides.
