Smiles as first exam goes off with no problems

By Tabelo Timse and Sbongile Dimbaza

THE first matric exam, written by 1 545 pupils across the province, went off without a hitch yesterday, with Deputy Education Minister Enver Surty visiting several schools and examinations centres to double-check that everything was on schedule.

Surty said he was very happy with the first day of examinations, after he visited three schools in East London and two in Kings William’s Town.

“I am very impressed with what I saw. Everything was in order, no disruptions. Question papers were collected on time and pupils reported to their exam centres on time.”

He said his visit, with other national education department officials, was to ensure support for the provincial department and to make sure the environment was conducive to learning.

“We are very happy with Sadtu’s decision to work together with the department to ensure that exams take place peacefully,” he said.

However, he said that negotiations with Sadtu regarding provincial education problems would continue.

“Talks with Sadtu over the past few weeks have been positive and we need to finalise unresolved issues.”

Surty said he was confident that the province would achieve a higher percentage pass rate than last year.

In Bhisho, acting exams and assessment director Mzimhle Mabona said the department was very happy that not one complaint had been received.

“We appreciate a good start but we won’t become complacent. The real challenge is on Monday when more than 77 000 pupils will be writing (English).”

He said everything had been on time yesterday as a result of a joint effort by school principals and district offices to collect exam papers.

Victoria Park High School pupils who wrote the standard grade compu-typing yesterday said the paper had been “quite easy but long”. Some pupils complained that there was not enough time to finish the last questions, but were confident they had passed.

Taryn Venter, 18, said that compared with the trial exams paper “this paper was a much better standard. I understood everything that was asked”.

Although the pupils were given two hours and 15 minutes, they said they were pressed for time. Compu-typing teacher Dianne Briedenhann was confident her pupils would pass.

At Ithembelihle Comprehensive School, deputy principal Luyanda Dyantyi said there had been “no hiccups”.

He said he was optimistic that the pupils would do well as they had encountered no problems.

Pupils at Khwezi Lomso High School were less confident and refused to comment, saying they were “experiencing headaches”. Principal Behrent Cecelia confirmed that the exams were “spotless” and said she was hoping for the best for the pupils.

Sadtu Eastern Cape secretary-general Mxolisi Dimaza said the union had not received any reports of problems.

Today some 24 611 students will write economics, both grades.