Pretoria - Tight security will be put in place during this year's Grade 12 exams in a bid to reduce the safety risk of leaked question papers.
The Chief Director of National Examinations and Assessment in the Basic Education Department, Dr Rufus Poliah, said the department has worked closely with the provinces - especially Mpumalanga - in making sure that question papers are safeguarded.
He said unlike in previous years, question papers will not be stored in Mpumalanga (where there was a leak scandal in 2009) but will be released to the province shortly before learners sit for exams.
"We think that there would be a significant reduction in the risk. The staff has been selected and only those who satisfied certain criteria will remain in the exams... Mpumalanga has the best security in the country at this particular point and we are confident that the exams will be successfully administered in the province," said Poliah.
To further reduce the risk, the department has also reduced the number of distribution points across the country.
A thorough audit of independent schools has been conducted by the department and where the department is unsure of the management, it will take over the administration of the school, including full responsibility of question papers.
Schools will receive question papers in the morning to help ensure that there is minimum misplacement of scripts.
A total of 620 266 pupils have registered to write this year's matric exams, including 512 029 full time and 108 237 part time candidates.
The national exams will start on 24 October 2011, with the practical subjects - including Information Technology and Computer Application Technology - written between 17 and 18 October 2011. - BuaNews
