Mbombela - Mpumalanga Education MEC Reginah Mhaule is confident that the province will achieve a 67% matric pass rate, a 10% improvement from 2010.
Mhaule was addressing Grade 12 pupils at Lowveld High School in Mbombela, who wrote their English paper on Tuesday morning.
"We are confident the department will uphold the integrity of this examination by ensuring an incident free and credible process and we believe we will achieve our target of 67%," said Mhaule.
She asked all matriculants to remain focused and ensure they studied until the last paper was written.
After addressing the pupils, the MEC told journalists that the department had established a help desk to address problems related to registration or results.
She also said exams were going smoothly.
"We are happy to indicate that so far the Grade 12 examination is progressing without any glitches."
Meanwhile, the MEC added that parents and guardians were responding positively to the call to register their children before the end of October for the next school year.
"Schools are also urged to address all outstanding cases and respond to parents accordingly."
A substantial amount has been set aside for textbooks.
"We have set aside R333 million to achieve this endeavour and we envisage these will have reached all our schools by the end of January," said Mhaule.
She said learning would begin on the first day of school next year because the department had already procured and received stationery, which is expected to be delivered to schools at the end of November.
The department will have 32 637 teacher posts in the 2012 academic year.
"This will provide a favourable teacher-pupil ratio at 1:29," said the MEC.
The department signed a collective agreement with teachers' unions on 25 October to permanently employ temporary teachers at schools that have vacancies.
"Those who meet the minimum requirements for permanent appointments shall be appointed permanently in vacant substantive posts in their current schools of employment. The process to identify and appoint them should be finalised not later than 9 December."
The Mpumalanga Education Department will also unveil six new schools next year. The schools are:
* Inqubeko Secondary in Piet Retief
* Ezakheni Combined Boarding School in Wakkerstroom
* Shongwe Boarding School in Malalane
* Vezimfundo Primary in Delmas
* Henry Mkhabela Secondary in Emalahleni
* Khunjuliwe Secondary School in Standerton
Mobile classes are available to relieve schools that will be affected by storms between now and January.
Mhaule said budgets detailing amounts allocated to schools for the next financial year were distributed to schools in September.
"The last round of transfers will be done before the end of January and this ensures schools are able to convene their annual parent meetings to present budgets for the 2012 school year as dictated by the School's Act," she said.
The MEC added that collaborative effort between her department and that of community safety, security and liaison to rid schools of dangerous weapons and drugs would be intensified next year.
"So far, 50% of schools are linked to police stations and we intend to reach 100% by March. This will ensure protection for pupils including teachers and other employees and searches will be conducted by police at all schools in the province."
