Gauteng Education Department say they are ready for the matric examination starting on the 30th of October.
More than 900 examination centres are ready for matriculants in the province.
[IN PICTURES]: Gauteng Education MEC @matomekopano joined matriculants in signing the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination pledge which binds learners to obey all exam rules and regulations.#ClassOf2023GP#GPMatric2023 pic.twitter.com/BY9x6ZHC8U
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) October 23, 2023
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane highlighted some of the initiatives that the department has taken.
“We have done a lot to ensure that we support our matriculants this year. Amongst those programs we continued with our secondary school improvement programs, mainly targeting our schools that are struggling, Section 68B as well as our township schools.”
Meanwhile, NPO Equal Education says the delivery of 840 desks and chairs by the Gauteng Department of Education to three overcrowded schools on Gauteng’s East Rand is a welcomed relief ahead of the end of year examinations.
The organisation has been campaigning for the provision of school infrastructure after their investigation reveal that many schools still face capacity issues, overcrowding and furniture shortages.
According to the Gauteng Department of Education’s 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan, over 723 Gauteng schools are overcrowded, with a shortage of over 5 000 classrooms.
Equal Education’s Mbali Twala says despite the provision of desks and chairs to these three schools, more needs to be done urgently.
“This victory comes at a time when learners are preparing for their final examinations meaning that schools can spend more time helping learners prepare for the exams instead of trying to create alternative arrangements to accommodate learners in overcrowded classrooms. However, a lot more is needed to end overcrowding in Gauteng schools.”
