THOUSANDS OF MPUMALANGA YOUNG ARMY TO BATTLE IT OUT IN GRADE 12 FINALS

THOUSANDS OF MPUMALANGA YOUNG ARMY TO BATTLE IT OUT IN GRADE 12 FINALS

By MONTSHO MATLALA
MBOMBELA– Resembling a battle charged army, the 85 448- strong grade 12 candidates in Mpumalanga are ready to battle it out and register at least 83% pass rate in the final examinations kicking off from the 30th October 2023 with the writing of First papers for English Home and First Additional Language at 9: am
According to Mpumalanga Education MEC Mr Bonakele Majuba, the department has pulled all stops to ensure that this year’s grade 12 National Senior Certificate Examinations progress without any glitches.
“There are 68 681 full time and 16 767 part time candidates who have been registered to write the National Senior Certificate Examination this year. Ehlanzeni District has registered the biggest number of candidates which is 18 292 full time and 6 210 part-time. Nkangala District has registered 17 462 full time and 4 632 part time candidates,
“Gert Sibande District has registered 16 267 full time and 2 853 part time candidates while Bohlabela District has registered 16 089 full time and 2 529 part time candidates,” explained Majuba.
Speaking to TimeLess News this week Congress of SA Students (COSAS) provincial coordinator Mr Sankara Mhlongo concurred it was all systems go for the grade 12 final examinations but wanted more on the pass rate.
“As learners we are very much confident that grade 12 examination will go on with no hiccups. We are well prepared and ready to sit for examination and emerge victoriously. Mpumalanga province should be in the top 5 provinces but be on top at 100% pass rate,” said Mhlongo.
Mhlongo however challenges of infrastructure in numerous schools but believed the provincial Education Department was remedying the situation.
The provincial Education Department whished that all candidates could emerge victoriously at the examinations which should be incident free like in the past 11 years
The Provincial Education Department would be glad to see all candidates passing the National Senior Certificate this year.
“In the event that for some reason that does not happen, the Department will be satisfied to register an 83% pass rate as this will be in line with the target set in the National Development Plan.
“This target is informed by the extent of the support the Department provided to the Class of 2023.
“The support included the provisioning of Ubuhlebuzile e-learning Programme, support visits to schools by the executive, officials and subject advisors, convening of winter and spring classes as well as convening motivation sessions across circuits and districts of the province.
Schools were expected to develop and implement school based support programmes which included morning, afternoon, evening and weekend classes. Most schools have convened school camps to cover lost ground,” the provincial Education Department stated.
SA Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) in Mpumalanga has also expressed optimist the Class of 2023 would perform and showed some improvements.
Mr Walter Hlaise, SADTU provincial secretary said there were however numerous obstacles disturbing learning and teaching processes during the 2023 academic year.
“This year has not been easy and the normal issues of scarce resources for indigent schools and difficult working conditions are still prevalent.
“Services delivery protests and criminal activities in schools have had a negative impact on learners and teachers,” Hlaise said.
The Department advises the public to be the first level of security by ensuring that nothing interferes with the smooth running o examinations.
Community members who suspect any irregularity can contact Departmental Examination Help Desk at 013 766 0033 alternatively through the Departmental Toll Free Line: 0800 203 116 during office hours.