Gauteng ready to commence with matric exams : Lesufi

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says the province is ready to commence with the start of matric examinations this week, having implemented strict COVID-19 protocols at all centres across the province.

Lesufi was updating the media on Sunday morning, on the state of readiness for the 2021 National Senior Certificate Examinations.

Gauteng Education has set up an anonymous WhatsApp line to report any irregularities during the 2021 matric examination. After a strenuous year, the class of 2021 will this week sit to write their Senior Certificate Examination, from the 27th of October to the 6th of December.

Over 175 000 matric learners in the province are preparing for this final leg in their schooling careers.

Lesufi says it’s all systems go for them.

“As a province, we are convinced that we are ready with the majority of educators having been vaccinated. Our examination centres are not going to be super spreader events. The maximum size of any classroom will be 30 candidates with 1-metre distancing. Masks must be worn at all times. Candidates who test positive for COVID-19 will be allowed to sit with other candidates in the same hall. Hand sanitisers will be provided. Sanitising and temperature screening at all entry points will be compulsory. Invigilators who display COVID-19 symptoms will be released immediately.”

Meanwhile, Head of Department for Gauteng Education Edward Mosuwe says security around examination papers has been beefed up to ensure no cheating will take place.

“I can confirm that every time there is a just in the printing of papers, we have improved on the level of security that associated with that, both at a personal level and technology level. Both the DBE and Umalusi have actually given Gauteng approval that we can conduct examinations.”

Edward Mosuwe spoke to SABC News after the briefing: 

Grade 1 and 8 online admissions

Lesufi has also encouraged parents in the province to finalise admissions for the 2022 academic year.

Seventy-five thousand parents in the province have not yet accepted their offers for admission for the 2022 academic year. Lesufi has urged parents to move with speed as other pupils are also awaiting placement for Grade 1 and Grade 8.

“The Grade 1 and 8 application process has been concluded without any major glitches. To date, 123 000 placement offers were released to parents. 47 000 applications have been accepted already. We urge parents to move with speed and accept the remaining places. Failure to do so will lead us to give these places to another round of applicants.”

Lesufi gives an update on readiness for matric exams and 2022 online admissions: