The National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations are now in its fifth week and are expected to conclude on 6 December 2023. The DBE is pleased with the level of proficiency demonstrated in this year’s NSC examinations.
Ms Priscilla Ogunbanjo, Director for Public Examinations and National Assessments, confirmed that the DBE and the nine Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) have ensured that teachers, principals and examination officials were fully trained to administer credible examinations in line with the regulations relating to examinations. “Only minor challenges occurred, and these were addressed effectively by the DBE. The Class of 2023 has been subjected to unusual and adverse learning conditions during their Grade 9 and Grade 10 academic years in 2020 and 2021 respectively. This is primarily due to the outbreak of COVID-19, which severely impacted their educational journey. From 2021 to 2023, the DBE spearheaded learner support programmes at national and provincial levels. These were tailored to mitigate reduced contact time and to address learning gaps and learning losses. These interventions further attempted to improve learner performance across the system and the DBE is optimistic about a positive outcome.
“Despite the challenges of pursuing quality education during a world pandemic, and recovering from rotational systems, the DBE’s question papers, approved by Umalusi, for the current NSC examinations, retained the standard of the past five years’ examinations. Let me take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the Basic Education Sector, under the leadership of Minister Motshekga, Deputy Minister Dr Mhaule, Director-General Mweli and MECs, as well as senior officials across all PEDs for their unwavering support in making these examinations a success. I therefore urge all education stakeholders to continue supporting the Class of 2023 during the remainder of the examinations,” said Ms Ogunbanjo.
The marking of scripts has already commenced in certain provinces, but all provinces will actively be involved in marking from 08 December 2023.