With the matric exams set to get underway tomorrow, the Department of Basic Education has implemented robust measures to protect the integrity of the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
This was said by Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube at a media briefing on Sunday detailing the readiness of the exam system to administer the 2024 NSC matric exams.
The Minister announced that the setting, printing, and distribution of question papers have been completed, with a total of 162 quality-assured papers approved by Umalusi for this year's NSC exams.
“Taking lessons from previous instances of editing errors, the department introduced additional quality gates for an extra layer of checks.
“In terms of security, the department has taken extensive precautions to safeguard the integrity of the examination process. We have completed audits of all storage facilities across the country to ensure they meet the required standards for secure handling of examination materials,” she said.
The Minister said all exam materials will be stored under strict conditions, and Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) have been equipped with Standard Operating Procedures to ensure the safe and secure handling of question papers from printing to distribution.
Furthermore, distribution trucks will be equipped with tracking systems to monitor their movements and ensure that question papers reach exam centres on time and without compromise.
“As a department, we will monitor some 6,334 public schools and 575 independent centres where examinations will be conducted.
“To ensure the integrity of the exams, we have deployed 70 part-time monitors to oversee high-risk centres. Additionally, at least 70% examination centres will be monitored per session. These efforts will help to prevent irregularities such as group copying or leakage of exam papers,” the Minister said.
Marking
Once the exams are completed, the focus will shift to the marking process, which is a critical part of ensuring the credibility and fairness of the NSC exams.
She said the department has appointed over 55,000 qualified markers across 188 marking centres nationwide.
The Minister added that these markers have been selected based on strict criteria to ensure that only experienced and qualified educators participate in the marking process.
“To further ensure consistency and fairness, Marking Standardisation Meetings (MSMs) will be held for each subject.
“These meetings will bring together subject specialists and chief markers to ensure that all marking is aligned with agreed-upon standards. External moderators from Umalusi will closely monitor the process to ensure that there is no variation in the quality and accuracy of the marking across different provinces.”
Addressing potential risks
The Minister emphasised that the department is fully aware of potential risks that could undermine the integrity of the examination process.
“In addition to the security measures I have mentioned, we are collaborating closely with the National Joint Operations Committee (NATJOCs) and the Provincial Joint Operations Committees (PROVJOCs) to ensure that security is always maintained.
“These partnerships will help us manage any emerging risks and respond swiftly to any threats that may arise,” she said.
Behaviour
Minister Gwarube also highlighted the department's ongoing efforts to promote exam integrity among learners and their families.
Two days ago, she participated in a National Pledge-Signing Ceremony with matriculants from Pretoria Central High School, while Provincial MECs of Education led similar ceremonies in their respective provinces.
“All learners have now signed Exam Pledges, in which they make a declaration to uphold the principles of honesty and integrity throughout the exam period.
“The pledge reinforces the importance of ethical conduct and discourage any attempts to engage in dishonest practices. Additionally, pledge-signing ceremonies have been held in schools across the country to publicly reaffirm learners' commitment to these values,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
