Basic Education Minister, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, delivered her Executive Statement to Parliament at the Nieuwmeester marquee in Cape Town on 22 October 2024, on the readiness of the Department of Basic Education to administer the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
The Minister announced that the examinations, which commenced on 21 October 2024, progressed smoothly. However, 400 learners from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape Province, who were due to write Computer Science on the day, experienced challenges due to storm damage to power lines and collapsing bridges, adding that the province was assisting these learners as not to disadvantage them: “Besides this incident, Honourable Members, it is all systems go for the rest of the exams”. The Minister highlighted main areas for noting. These include: support to learners and educators; provincial readiness; the Last Push and shared responsibility; examination readiness, security and integrity and risks; and combatting fake news.
“Due to Covid-19, our Learning Recovery Programme was designed to address the setbacks caused by the pandemic. We have provided learners with diagnostic reports, past question papers and study materials to support their exam preparation. Across all provinces, extra tuition classes have been held on weekends and in the afternoons, offering learners the opportunity to close gaps. Some key initiatives supporting the Class of 2024 have included personalised learning interventions, additional teaching support and socio-emotional care. Equally, provinces rolled out extra face-to-face tuition sessions, Saturday catch-up programmes, and extended school hours in key subjects, especially to learners who struggled to cope with the curriculum content due to earlier disruptions. These targeted initiatives focused on subjects with high enrolments, such as Mathematics, Life Sciences, and Business Studies. Teachers and school management teams have also been exemplary in their dedication and support.
“In terms of our provincial readiness, I have personally embarked on a Listening and Learning Tour to visit the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), engaged with MECs and their management teams, district directors, school principals and to inspect schools across the country. The Director-General has visited all 75 districts in South Africa this year and has participated in Autumn, Winter and Spring Matric Camps to support districts and schools. Through ongoing collaboration and regular briefings with the Heads of Provincial Education Departments (HoDs), we have addressed many challenges that have arisen. We launched The Last Push, a final, targeted effort to help learners address any remaining gaps. This initiative focuses on areas identified during trial exams, offering group sessions, weekend classes, extra online resources, and additional practice with past exam papers.
“The May/June 2024 exams served as a critical test of our readiness, and I am pleased to report that our systems audit confirms that we are prepared for this exam cycle. We have also implemented strict security protocols to safeguard against potential misconduct or malpractice by learners or teachers. Examination officials have also been trained to identify and respond to any irregularities, and we are closely collaborating with law enforcement agencies to secure exam centres, especially in high-risk areas. In addition to the security measures we are also collaborating with the National and Provincial Joint Operations Committees to ensure that security is always maintained. These partnerships will help us manage any emerging risks and respond swiftly to threats that may arise.
“We have seen a rise in fake videos purporting to be leaks of our 2024 question papers and memos. This has caused unnecessary confusion and panic and should not be allowed to impact on the integrity of the NSC exams. I urge all South Africans, including the media, to rely only on verified communications from the DBE, Umalusi and PEDs to ensure that only credible and reliable information is relied on.
In conclusion, the Minister extended her gratitude to PEDs, School Governing Bodies (SGBs), law enforcement partners and stakeholders who made the examinations possible. “Finally, to the Class of 2024, you have shown incredible resilience, determination and hard work. The NSC exams are a testament not only to your academic abilities, but also to your perseverance in the face of challenges. You are ready. Your teachers, your families, your communities, your Government, we all stand behind you, wishing you every success. To the parents and guardians, thank you for your unwavering support. The proverb is true: It takes a village to raise a child. This moment is as much yours as it is theirs.”