Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane briefed the media on Monday, at Edenvale Secondary School in Ekurhuleni on the province’s readiness for the upcoming 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric exams.
The 2024 Matric final exams are set to begin on Monday, October 21, and will run until November 28.
Chiloane emphasised that this year’s exams will be conducted under strict conditions, with no room for cheating. Extra invigilators will be hired, and security measures will be tightened.
Chiloane stated: “All high-level security mechanisms remain in place and have been strengthened to prevent question paper leakages, including strict adherence to security norms and standards prescribed by both the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for national examinations.”
To ensure the integrity of the exams, the department has appointed service providers to enhance security at district levels.
This includes armed escorts, response units, and CCTV cameras at examination venues for the duration of the exams.
According to Chiloane, a total of 189,693 candidates are registered to take the 2024 NSC exams, comprising 136,051 full-time and 53,642 part-time students. This marks a slight decrease of 0.78% compared to the previous year.
The GDE has prepared 1,035 examination centres across the province, including 669 public centres and 237 independent centres.
To prevent digital cheating, cellphones and smart watches are banned from exam venues.
Extra invigilators and monitors will be deployed to high-risk centres to ensure strict supervision.
Candidates will also be required to sign a pledge to uphold the NSC Examination Code of Conduct, committing to honesty during the exams.
A formal pledge ceremony will be held on October 18, 2024, with the MEC presiding over the event.
Moreover, the MEC stated that the marking of exam scripts will take place at 18 marking centres in two phases: early marking from November 14 to 25, and the main session from December 1 to 16.
A total of 10,712 markers have been appointed to ensure that marking is completed on time.
The provincial release of NSC results is scheduled for January 16, 2025, following the national ministerial release on January 15, 2025.
Chiloane concluded by urging parents, guardians, and communities to support Grade 12 learners during their exams. “We also urge communities to desist from any activities that may negatively affect learners’ studies and access to the examinations,” he said.
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