Matric 2019: DA wishes KZN’s 183 808 NSCE candidates all the very best

Issued by Dr Imran Keeka, MPL – DA KZN Spokesperson on Education
15 Oct 2019 in Press Statements

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal wishes the province’s 183 808 National Senior Certificate Examinations (NSCE) candidates all the very best as they begin their final exams today.

In a briefing to the provincial Education Portfolio Committee last week, it was announced that the first paper, set to be written today, will be the Computer Applications Technology Practical Paper One, with the NSCE concluding on 28 November. It is planned that the National Minister of Education will announce the matric results on the 7 January 2020, with the provincial MEC’s making their announcements the following day.

Candidates will write in 1 763 centres.  Of these 1 700 are public schools and 63 independent schools. A further breakdown of these numbers tells us that 148 493 are full time learners while 35 315 are part-time candidates.  A total of 112 papers will be written in 61 Subjects.

A KZN Education portfolio committee oversight inspection to the printing facility for exam papers last week showed that all was on track to roll out the examinations at that level, that papers will be securely and reliably delivered to all facilities on time and that the eventual collection and transport to markers will also be a safe and secure process.  A total of 30 492 0000 pages of paper will have been printed in the end while KZN has appointed 8 342 markers, 1 334 senior markers, 191 deputy chief markers and 74 chief markers among others.

As far as readiness and security goes, the taste of the pudding is in the eating of it and it will be left to be seen if the presentation of readiness made to us will be as it is supposed to be. Of course, in the end the DA would like to see a significant improvement from last years’ real KZN matric pass rate, which was just 36.3% when taking into account the number of learners who enrolled in Grade 10 in 2016 and the number who passed matric in 2018.

Quality passes are what will ensure that our learners can become active contributors to a capable state, which is what our province and country sorely needs.  We know all to well that youth unemployment in our country is around 55% and that the road ahead will be filled with various challenges for these young people. This is the stark reality of a failed ANC-led government.

The future of our country will be in the  hands of those who start writing today and we must all devote ourselves to changing the face of our country through quality basic education for all of of our children.  This must include post-schooling access to equal opportunities for all. The DA is committed to this where we govern and we are committed to ensuring this becomes a reality in KZN.