Matric Examinations: Western Cape Education Department Prepared and Ready

"With just two weeks to go, the Western Cape Education Department is prepared and ready for the 2010 National Senior Certificate Examinations," said Western Cape Education Minister Donald Grant on Monday.

"This is a massive undertaking with a total of fifty-three thousand, one hundred and eighty-three (53 183) full-time and part-time learners writing in the Western Cape."

Minister Grant said that forty-seven thousand and fifty-five (47 055) full-time and six thousand one hundred and twenty-eight (6 128) part-time learners would be writing the examinations in four hundred and twenty (420) examination centres across the Province.

"This is an increase of four thousand, six hundred and ninety-one (4 691) learners from last year," he said.

"This week the first practical examinations will begin with ten thousand, one hundred and seventy-three (10 173) learners' sitting down to participate in the Computer Applications Technology practical examination, and six hundred and twenty-seven (627) learners in Information Technology."

He said that eight hundred thousand (800 000) scripts will be marked between the 8th and the 15th of December by three thousand seven hundred (3700) markers.

"We have also appointed two thousand one hundred and sixty-three (2 163) invigilators for duty at the exam centres," he said. "The final results are due to be announced on the 6th of January 2011. While there is no way we can forecast the outcome of these results in the Western Cape, we obviously are hoping for an improvement in our learner outcomes."

Grant said that he was confident that the department had done all it can to assist the Class of 2010, and will continue to do so up until the very last day of their examinations.

"We have, from the very beginning of the school year, put in place programmes to assist our Grade twelve's (12s) which have sought to assist our Class of 2010 for these examinations. However, I must also acknowledge our learners. They have been enthusiastic and focussed throughout the year," he said.

"They have worked hard, despite disruptions during the World Cup and the strike, and we are proud of their efforts. This year we have seen increased attendance at our holiday programmes and after-school programmes. We have also run a successful tutoring and telematics programme which has received widespread support from learners. So their will to learn is evidently there."

Grant said that he wished all of the learners in the Western Cape the best of luck.

"I sincerely hope that their hard work translates into good results that I know they are all aspiring to."