All systems go for 2024 matric exams

With just hours to go before the first paper in the 2024 National Senior Certificate examinations is written, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says the department is ready to administer the examinations.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, Gwarube said these exams are not only a critical milestone for the learners involved, but they also represent the cumulative efforts of the nation’s education system, schools, communities, and the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

“With just hours to go before the first paper is written, I proudly announce that we are ready to administer the 2024 NSC exams - holding ourselves to best-in-class integrity, security, and efficiency standards.

“Outside of the National and Local Government elections, I have yet to learn any other logistical project of the magnitude of the National Senior Certificate Examinations,” Gwarube said at the briefing held in Pretoria.

This year, 727,121 full-time and 155,215 part-time candidates will sit for the NSC matric exams—that's 882,336 candidates from across South Africa. Concerning private schools, some 16 400 students will undertake the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exams.

The Minister noted that these learners have encountered numerous challenges throughout their academic journey, largely stemming from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in their earlier years of schooling.

“The Class of 2024 entered Grade 8 in 2020, right at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The disruption caused by the pandemic during these formative years has had a lasting impact on their learning. Over the course of their academic journey, the department has instituted several mitigation measures to address these gaps.

“These interventions were part of our Learning Recovery Programme, which aimed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and ensure that learners could make up for lost time,” she said.

Support

She added that some key initiatives supporting the Class of 2024 have included personalised learning interventions, additional teaching support, and socio-emotional care.

Equally, provinces rolled out face-to-face extra tuition sessions, Saturday catch-up programmes, and extended school hours in key subjects—especially to learners who struggled to cope with the curriculum content due to earlier disruptions.

The Minister said that these targeted initiatives focused on subjects with high enrolments, such as Mathematics, Life Sciences, and Business Studies.

“In addition to classroom-based interventions, learners have also benefited from extensive support in the form of revision materials, past question papers, and online resources made available through public-private partnerships with stakeholders such as Vodacom, MTN, the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and other corporate partners, who have made an invaluable contribution to education in this country.”

The Minister emphasised that the adage "it takes a village to raise a child, " is true and that is evident in the education sector.

“Civil society and the private sector's support in helping to create an enabling environment is deeply felt. I want to encourage more members of the private sector and civil society to support the education sector as we face severe budget constraints. The system is under strain and needs your help.”

The Last Push programme

Turning to the "Last Push" programme by the various provincial departments, the Minister said it has played a crucial role in ensuring that learners can consolidate their learning in the final days before the exams.

“These efforts have aimed to ensure that no learner is left behind. Various provinces convened Winter, Spring, and other Matric camps to take matriculants away from disruptions at home and from social ills that could potentially distract them from their exam preparations.

“In the ‘Last Push,’ we have seen learners give their complete focus and attention to the upcoming matric exams,” Gwarube said.

Furthermore, the department has ensured that learners with disabilities are adequately catered for.

“Special accommodations, including Braille papers, large print, and South African Sign Language adaptations, have been made to ensure that these learners also have the resources and support they need to succeed,” she said.

Moment to shine

The Minister told members of the media that despite the challenges faced by the Class of 2024, she is confident that collective efforts have prepared the learners well for the upcoming examinations.

“Their journey has been one of resilience and determination, and we believe that they will rise to the occasion. To the learners, this is your moment to shine. You have worked hard over the past 12 years, and now you have the opportunity to showcase your knowledge, skills, and determination.

“We are confident that you will approach these exams with the focus, discipline, and commitment that have brought you this far. Please stay off Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other social media to minimise disruptions during this critical time.”

“I am proud of the learners, teachers, schools, PEDs [Provincial Education Departments] and the DBE for the way in which they have prepared for the NSC 2024, but we must be vigilant until the last examination is written.

This requires the support of all South Africans, and all stakeholders, in respecting this precious opportunity in our young people’s lives and to give them the support they require. The DBE will be vigilant.”

The Minister told officials that she knows they remain committed to ensuring that the 2024 NSC exams are administered with the highest integrity, security, and efficiency standards.

“These examinations will not only serve as a testament to the quality of the education we deliver in our classrooms but also as a stepping stone to the future success of our learners. The eyes of the country are on us, we dare not falter.

“In closing, I wish all our learners the best for the exams. You have the support of your teachers, your families, and your communities behind you. Approach these exams confidently and know that the nation is rooting for your success,” she said.

The examinations are set to run from 21 October to 27 November. – SAnews.gov.za