Limpopo Education MEC Polly Boshielo is confident that the class of 2021 will produce excellent results.

Boshielo visited Raowele Secondary School outside Mokopane, where she addressed matriculants sitting for their English Paper One exam.

Over 142 000 full-time and part-time matric learners are sitting for the National Senior Certificate exams in the province.

Last year, the province achieved a 68% pass rate.

Boshielo has also discouraged learners from cheating.

“They have worked hard throughout the year, against all odds with the COVID-19 [challenges]. I have seen them putting in effort and in the morning and [during] afternoon studies. I’ve seen them go into camps. I have seen them doing everything in their power to make sure that they are ready for this examination,” adds the MEC.

“We are saying to them, today is the day they must just relax and be able to write the examinations. One of the tips that I’ve given them is that they should start with the questions that they know better. I [also] said to them, start with the ones which you know very well, and then the second one that you are not sure of, and the last one, those that are difficult,” adds Boshielo.

Limpopo matriculants sit for their first exam paper:

The Department of Education in the Eastern Cape says it is all systems go for the 2021 matric examinations.

The department says it has done everything possible to assist students, including supplementary revision to make sure that they cover lost ground.

The spokesperson of the department, Malibongwe Mtima, says it started smoothly on Wednesday morning.

“There are no incidents that have been reported. Apart from that, we have provided learners with support material to make sure that they become ready. One, previous question papers for revision. Two, we have given them study tips. Three, we have also had some revision from classes that they had, there were vacation revision lessons meant to ensure that we bridge the gap. They are ready,” says Mtima.

Matriculants write their first paper, English paper 1:

KZN education ready for 2021 matric exams

Meanwhile, the Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal says despite the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is ready to get this year’s matric exams underway.

Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu will monitor exams in KwaMashu on Wednesday morning.

Over 200 000 full-time and part-time learners will write the exams in the province.

Department spokesperson Kwazi Mthethwa says, “We are both ready academically and administratively. We have been able to support our learners. Our teachers have worked hard.”

“You will remember that this year and last year, we were affected by the pandemic and so we have to go the extra mile. We were still able to provide learners with reading materials and support them academically. So it’s all systems go, we started at 9am with English first paper,” adds Mthethwa.

MEC Kwazi Mshengu to monitor the start of matric exams in Phoenix:

–Additional reporting by Koketso Motau & Xolani Sitshinga.