Long wait almost over for matric candidates

The wait is almost over for hundreds of thousands of matric candidates with their results being released nationally early tomorrow morning. The results will be published in newspapers and made available on SABC's mobile news service Newsbreak 082 152.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Department of Education says it's all systems go for the release of the matric results. Department spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa says Education MEC Ina Cronje will officially announce the provincial results in Pietermaritzburg tomorrow morning. He says Cronje is expected to congratulate the 100 top achievers in 12 categories.

The principal of Zwelibanzi High School in Umlazi south of Durban, S'busiso Maseko, says he is confident that his school will again produce good matric results this year. Zwelibanzi is one of the township schools that has a proven track record of producing good matric results. Maseko says they took advantage of the recovery plan that was available after the public servants strike in June.

New curriculum
The Eastern Cape Department of Education has called on grade 12 learners who have not been successful in their final examinations to make use of the department's grade 12 support project.

This comes after the department announced that unsuccessful candidates would not be readmitted to mainstream schools next year. The Department of Education spokesperson, Loyiso Pulumani, says this is because a new curriculum will be in place from next year.

Pulumani has also admitted that the department is expecting that the recent civil service strike action will also have a negative impact on the results.

The Northern Cape Department of Education has appealed to parents and families to support their children in dealing with the stress related to the release of the matric results. Learners have been known to commit suicide when they fail the exams.

The SABC's mobile news service, News Break 082 152, will be publishing detailed matric results on the line as soon as the results are out early tomorrow morning.

All one need do is call 082 152, select option 6 and follow the instructions. Students' exam and ID numbers are needed to access the results and calls are charged at value-added service rates. Students are also advised to contact their schools should they have any queries or need further information.

Western Cape results will be released early on Saturday morning, but all the other provinces tomorrow.