Matric learners in Gauteng started their final examinations on Monday and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube warned them against cheating.
Gwarube sounded this warning on Monday morning while on an inspection visit of the examination process at the Soshanguve East Secondary School in Tshwane.
The purpose of the inspection visit was just to observe the state of readiness of the Matric class of 2024 at the school.
Monday was the first day of Matric examinations in Gauteng and the learners wrote Afrikaans and English First Papers.
“The Soshanguve East Secondary School is one of the biggest examination centres in the Gauteng Province with over 250 learners writing their examinations here,” said Minister Gwarube when she addressed the media at the school on Monday morning.
Over 800 000 learners sat for their Matric exams countrywide on Monday.
“One of the things that I am appealing for from the community is to make sure that there is no disruption of the examination process and I am also pleading with community leaders who might be planning service delivery protest to give the Matric learners the requisite space as this is a huge opportunity for the learners to write an examination that will matter for the rest of their lives,” she said.
“I am pleased that the question papers have arrived on time as their late arrival has always been an issue over the years, and I am also pleased that invigilators and security personnel are close at hand to do their work,” enthused Gwarube.
She expressed concern that inclement weather might cause disruptions in places like Kwa Zulu Natal.
She revealed that Psychosocial support systems are always utilised at schools for various reasons and that they will also be used where required during the examination period.
Gwarube said her department has taken stringent measures to uphold the integrity and credibility of the examinations.
“We have put in place additional security measures to make sure that the exam papers are delivered safely without any interference and the place where the question papers are stored has been secured, and we are confident that all exam papers are authentic,” explained Gwarube.
She also warned Matriculants not to cheat in these examinations.
“I would like to plead with Matric learners not to believe people who say they have had access to the exam papers as this is highly unlikely because all exam papers are uniquely identifiable and we have also asked the Matriculants to make a pledge that they won’t chest in these examinations,” she said.
“To the Matriculants I would like to say you have done the work and now is the time to merely write down what you know,’ said Gwarube.
Gauteng MEC for education Matome Chiloane also visited the Soshanguve East Secondary School to address the Matriculants.
“Our message to you is simple, I hope you are ready to write your paper and that you are all going to pass this paper,” he said.
“Just to relax, take your time, read the questions slowly, make sure you understand and respond accordingly,” said Chiloane.
“Today is just a language paper and I think you will deal easily with it as English is the language that you speak every day,” he said.
“I want to wish you all the best for the rest of the exams, and my advice to you is to study, study and study some more, and the only way you can get through this exam is to relax and calm down, don’t put yourself under pressure, you’ve got this under control and all the best,” he said.
School principal Riba Mmabatho said their school is an ICT one.
“We are excited because it has been quite a journey and we have put enough effort to ensure that we obtain a 100% pass rate as that is what we are working towards,” she said.
“We have different programmes to ensure that all learners pass according to their potential, and some will pass with bachelors, some with diplomas while others will pass with higher certificates, ” she said.
“This year Soshanguve East Secondary will obtain a pass rate of 100% and our previous results are 87,9 % and we normally produce good results,” she said.
“We have many challenges in our school, and we need all the support that we need from our parents,” she said.
She revealed that Soshanguve is a high-pressure school not because of the infrastructure, but because of the quality of teaching that is taking place within the school premises. “We have 1898 learners at the moment,” explained Riba.
Grade 12 learner Thabo Ndlovu said he felt very confident because he has studied hard, and he has been waiting for this day and he is confident that he will pass.
“The journey for the whole years has not been easy and it has been a rocky one but I’m ready for this one and teachers also help a lot and I’m happy to be finally here,” grade 12 learner Suprise Mathebula.