It’s all system go for NC Matric Exams
Kimberley - It is all system go for the Northern Cape Department of Education with regard to the 2013 National Senior Certificate examinations. This was announced by the Head of the Department, Tshepo Pharasi, during the announcement of the state of readiness to administer the examinations.
Mr Pharasi said more than 12 600 candidates will sit down for the examinations with 11 000 being full time candidates and the balance being part time candidates. This number marks an increase of more than 3000 candidates as compared with the number of candidates that were registered in last year’s final NSC exams.
“We are ready to administer this year’s exams and as expected we have trained our officials who will be overseeing the examinations in all our schools. Our provincial monitors who will be watching this exams closely received training which focused on how to approach exams monitoring, important aspects to focus on during exams, observing processes, scrutinising of documents, advice and giving supports to the candidates.
“The writing phase will be monitored by the head office, our district offices, Umalusi officials and the officials from Department of Basic Education,”said Pharasi.
Pharasi said as part of preparations, the department is also responsible for printing and distribution of question papers to the examination centres, taking responsibility in the marking processes and capturing of the marks on the Integrated Examination Computer System (IECS).
The department has set the 80% pass rate for this year’s NSC results, this will mark a huge improvement as the 2012 pass rate was 74%; amongst the targets include the improved figure in learners who will be eligible to enrol for Bachelors programme at the university level. The department is also aiming at increasing number of learners who pass Maths and Physical Science during the finals.
Counselling service will also be made available through the five districts for learners.
As part of the eradicating irregularities, Grade 12 learners at Pescodia High School signed pledge ahead of the examinations. The training of Chief Invigilators and invigilators took place and has previously assisted in minimising the number of irregularities and also ensuring that the correct procedures are followed where an irregularity is detected.
There will be 134 public and 5 independent centres offering the NSC examinations.