Over 798 000 learners have enrolled to write this year’s matric exams, which start on 16 October, according to Priscilla Ogunbanjo, the Director for Examination and Assessment. Ogunbanjo said this when the department briefed the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education in the National Assembly last Tuesday.
“Looking at the enrolments for 2017, we can see we have 636 814 full-time candidates that have enrolled to write this examination and 161 475 part-time candidates, giving us a total of 798 289 for this year,” she said.
On exam irregularities, Ogunbanjo said following the leaking of the Mathematics paper in Giyani last year, an independent audit company was commissioned to audit of the processes from the setting to the printing of question papers.
A number of weaknesses were identified, particularly at the Government Printing Works, which have since been attended to. More intensive monitoring of the printing and packaging of question papers will be done by the Limpopo Department of Basic Education, as well as the national department. – SAnews.gov.za