By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi), has raised concern over the Department of Basic Education’s shortage of marking staff during the exams.
Umalusi incorporates four examination bodies, the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Independent Examination Board (IEB), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI).
The exams are set to run from October 21 to November 27.
More than 1.1 million candidates have registered with four of the country’s assessment bodies to write the matric exams.
Umalusi CEO Dr Maki Rakometsi stated this was a perennial problem and that while risks could be handled, he hoped for better.
“In future, we don’t want stop-gap measures. They’ve got adequate time to plan so that next year there is a full complement,” he said.
For those who will be marking, a standardised mark-capturing system will be in place featuring a double-entry system, where a marker enters a result before a colleague replicates the action.
Rakometsi also issued a stern warning to teachers and learners to refrain from any forms of cheating.
“Umalusi condemns this criminal practice with the contemned it deserves. Cheating compromises the integrity of our national examination system, which we are mandated to jealously protect as a quality council and I’m referring here to Umalusi.
He has revealed that the country’s four assessment bodies were ready to conduct, administer and manage the upcoming matric exams.
The examination body held a briefing on Friday to assure those facing their final school hurdle that all was running smoothly.
Printing and storage of papers in underway, but Umalusi’s Mary Malia was tight-lipped on the procedures.
“All security protocols concerning the printing of examination materials are considered classified and treated with strict confidentiality, “said Malia.
“Disclosing any details would compromise the integrity of the entire process, or sharing specifics would risk undermining the measures designed to safeguard these examinations,” she added.
“Overall Umalusi is satisfied with the continuous enhancement of security measures, particularly the expedited vetting of individuals involved in handling live session papers.”