The Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, has assured the National Assembly that her department has put all necessary measures in place to ensure that exams for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) proceed without any interruption.
She reported that this week over 700 000 full-time and over 150 000 part-time learners began writing their NSC exams across the country with minimal disruptions. Minister Gwarube was delivering an executive statement in the National Assembly on the department’s readiness for the 2024 NSC examinations.
She told Members of Parliament that except for the 400-plus learners in Gqeberha, who could not write their Computer Science exam because of a heavy storm that damaged bridges and powerlines, there were no other reported disruptions on Monday, the first day of the exams.
“The affected learners will be catered for in a way that does not disadvantage them. Members must note that with every paper that is set, several other papers are also set and approved by Umalusi [Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training] for this type of circumstances. The learners will not be disadvantaged regardless of what solutions the province finds. It is all systems go for the rest of the exams,” the Minister assured the National Assembly.
The Minister said the integrity of the exams remains a top priority and, to minimise any misconduct, the department has deployed monitors to oversee high-risk exam centres. The department has also strengthened security protocols to safeguard against potential misconduct or malpractice on the part of learners or teachers, and officials have also been trained to identify and report irregularities. The department is also collaborating with law enforcement agencies to secure exam centres, especially in areas identified as high risk.
“The NSC is far more than just an exam; it represents the hopes and aspirations of nearly a million learners across South Africa. It is a gateway for further education, skills development and an opportunity for learners to gain access to the economy so they may live lives of dignity,” the Minister said.
Mr Vusi Shongwe from Mkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) cast doubts on the Minister’s statement and accused the department of ignoring service delivery challenges that could impact on the smooth proceeding of the examinations. “The Minister’s confidence on the readiness for the exams despite socio-economic challenges these students face on a day-to-day basis raises eyebrows. Can we ensure uninterrupted exams when basic services like water is not guaranteed, water shedding affects every sector including education, some learners cross flooded rivers to reach schools,” suggested Mr Shongwe.
He also mentioned existing education inequalities and listed access to technology equipment and unaffordable data as problems facing disadvantaged learners from poor backgrounds.
“We believe the Minister is overlooking the broader challenges that impact students’ ability to write exams, she is disconnected from the hard reality faced by people every day. MK believes that the current approach does not fully address the challenges in the education sector, doesn’t understand the challenges faced by poor learners such as unreliable scholar transport and crossing flooded streams to reach exam centres,” said Mr Shongwe.
The Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) Ms Reneiloe Mashabela echoed the concern about existing socioeconomic challenges that must be addressed in the education sector to ensure no learner was disadvantaged. “Our children continue to learn under very difficult conditions, which could be easily addressed if the state had political will. The majority of our schools do not have textbooks, which makes teaching and learning very difficult. Some schools have no security, which puts the lives of teachers and learners at risk. The scholar transport is another challenge. Girl children who walk long distance to school risk being raped and murdered,” she said. The EFF MP called for the review of the five-kilometre qualification criteria for scholar transport to two kilometers to relieve learners from walking long distances to school.
Ms Mashabela blamed all the challenges she mentioned on poor financial management and budgeting, as well as corruption in the Department of Education. “Government does not want to spend on hiring teachers, security, buying textbooks and scholar transport. The money which is supposed to be spent on the future of our children is being stolen through corrupt activities. Financial mismanagement and corruption within the department are barriers to fixing the problems,” said Ms Mashabela.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) proposed that the pass mark be set at 50% and for school curriculums to incorporate more practical subjects as well as financial and entrepreneurial literacy. Ms Busaphi Machi: “We must go beyond the exams readiness and address the long-term systemic issues affecting our schools. The IFP believes in the need to enhance teaching and learning standards by providing adequate resources to schools, particularly in township and rural areas, scholar transport,” she said.
Members from other political parties called on the department to invest in resources, infrastructure, employing teachers, addressing overcrowding and making the environment conducive to teaching and learning.
Mr Sedukanelo Louw of the African National Congress gave credit to his party for making education an apex priority for the government and for addressing loadshedding, which he said had the potential to negatively impact on the exams. “We have upgraded previously disadvantaged schools, equipped them with new technology, built new schools and ensured that education receives the highest budget allocation nationally and in provinces,” Mr Louw said.
Sakhile Mokoena
23 October 2024
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