Northern Cape matrics kick off final exams

AS MORE than 13,000 full-time candidates and over 1,000 part-time candidates sat down for their first matric exam paper on Monday, October 21, the Northern Cape MEC for Education, Abraham Vosloo, accompanied by the acting head of department (HOD), Dr Michelle Ishmael, paid a visit to William Pescod High School in Kimberley to monitor the examination centre.

Vosloo said that most districts received incident-free feedback from their centres. However, challenges arose in Jan Kempdorp, where taxi associations blocked five access roads. Fortunately, the issue was resolved quickly, allowing Grade 12 learners to reach their exam centres.

“We faced a challenge in Jan Kempdorp due to the blockade of five access roads by taxi associations in that area. This affected 297 learners, but all were reportedly able to write their exams at the five different high schools in the area,” he explained.

With a service delivery shutdown scheduled for next Monday, October 28, in Kimberley, Vosloo expressed hope that the organisers would recognise the importance of allowing the matric exams to proceed without disruption.

“I am confident that a delegation from the provincial government will engage with the relevant stakeholders to ensure the shutdown does not interfere with the Grade 12 exams. It’s crucial for learners to attend school and classes. There will be engagements to ensure we minimise the risk. We are also certain that the people involved in the shutdown understand the gravity of the situation and the importance for all Grade 12 learners completing their exams," said Vosloo.

He emphasised the importance of a smooth examination process and urged everyone to support Grade 12 learners.

“We are confident about administering the exams successfully. We call on parents and other stakeholders to encourage learners to spend the next 36 days fruitfully and focus on their studies,” he advised.