Joburg - In 10 days, the matric class of 2022 will conclude their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said on Sunday that although the NSC exams had been going well in the province, there had been a few incidents that took place.
These incidents include those earlier in the exam period when Computer Applications Technology (CAT) and Information Technology (IT) candidates could not complete practical papers due to load shedding and other reasons. The learners will be given the opportunity to write these papers on December 7.
“The process has been largely incident-free. There have been one or two incidences of concern,” Chiloane said.
These incidents include a Graceland Education Centre in Elspark, Germiston learner who was shot, but survived, on his way to write his exam on October 31; a Lawley Secondary School learner who was killed and another stabbed during a fight on November 1; an Abel Motshoane High School in Winterveld, Tshwane learner who had a heart attack and could not finish the exam on November 7; the community closed Qalabotjha Secondary School in Vlakfontein off on an exam day following the fatal stabbing of a learner on November 17; a Sakhisizwe Secondary School in Grasmere learner was stabbed to death during the weekend on November 19; learners from five Tshwane schools wrote at the wrong venue due to a taxi strike that occurred in their area on November 23; and a Nkumbulo Secondary School in KwaThema learner was stabbed en route to school and could not write exam on November 24.
The department said necessary support and interventions were provided by the department in each of these incidents.
Chiloane said strikes or protests had no material significance to the examination process, and the exams continued as planned.
“We need to applaud our community largely because they’ve heard our plea. Let’s give these learners an opportunity. This is their final exam. They should be intubated and allowed the space to ensure that they are able to ride without any form of disruption and the communities at large have adhered to that,” the MEC said.
The department, however, was concerned about absenteeism among part-time candidates.
“We are able as a department to say there’s never been any form of leakages or threats and there has never been life-threatening incidents,” Chiloane said.
The Star