Over 4 500 people have been contracted to mark examination answering papers of grade 12 learners in Mpumalanga. The provincial Department of Education has established 19 marking centres throughout the province. This, to ensure adherence to the COVID-19 regulation.
Over 93 000 learners had wrote grade 12 exam in Mpumalanga.
Marking personnel is being inducted and will commence with the marking of scripts on Thursday.
Provincial Education Spokesperson, Jasper Zwane, says the marking process will be concluded in three weeks time.
“Remember we had 93 000 learners writing last year and we have also increased the number marking personnel to ensure, you know everything run smoothly as we speak markers are arriving at the centres at the 19 centres and they would get a two-day orientation such that they are as certain that they would able to adhere to the regulations of COVID-19 Health and Safety protocols because they would be screened on a daily basis.”
Teacher’s union, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), is pleased with arrangements made to ensure the safety of the markers.
Mpumalanga SADTU Spokesperson, Walter Hlayise, says they will be monitoring all centres.
“We are going around the province to check the state of readiness and so far the centres we have seen the sanitation station, the demarcation as for social distance requirements, what we have not seen is the sleeping arrangements and dining arrangements but we will see once the markers have arrived but so far the state of readiness is per regulation.”
3 000 markers in Western Cape
Earlier, the Western Cape Education Department also said it was working hard to ensure that all safety protocols as marking gets under way.
The province has employed close to 3 000 markers at 11 different centres.
Department spokesperson, Bronagh Hammond, says they’ve communicated with the markers on safety issues.
“We have written to the markers informing them of the mandatory protocols of wearing the masks social distancing regular handwashing and screening measures and adequate ventilation of all marking centres we do acknowledge and are deeply appreciative of the contribution of our markers in ensuring that we have a successful marking session in this examinations.”
The marking process is expected to end on January 22.
Teachers begin marking papers on Monday, amid fears of COVID-19 infections:
Results due in February
Countrywide, more than 45 000 people will be involved.
The Basic Education Department has warned markers who fail to disclose a positive COVID-19 test that they will face a charge of misconduct.
The country’s matric students will have to wait until the 15th of February to hear whether the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training will declare the matric exams free and fair.
The council will have to take reports into two leaked exam papers into account. The results are then expected to be announced on February 22.
Meanwhile, the Basic Education Department has said it will do whatever it takes to make the safety of the 45 000 examiners its priority.
The department says medical professionals will be on standby at marking centres.
Teachers begin marking papers amidst fears of COVID infections:
New guidelines for markers have been drawn up in line with the Adjusted Alert Level 3 guidelines President Cyril Ramaphosa announced, some seen in the tweet below:
@DBE_SA Making health and safety a priority during marking of matric scripts during under COVID-19 circumstances.. pic.twitter.com/X9rm4evZGO
— Elijah Mhlanga (@ElijahMhlanga) January 2, 2021
SABC matric results services
The SABC Education Matric Results service will release the results to all students across all provinces who have registered, using the SMS or USSD line on the 22nd of February 2021.
Learners must register with their exam number on the platform of their choice to access their results.
Below are guidelines of how learners can register to receive their 2020 Matric Results:
by SMS
• SMS your exam number to 45856
• The system verifies the exam number; your exam number must be correct in order to be accepted.
• Learners will be charged R1-50 per SMS, free SMS’s do not apply
by USSD
• Dial *120*45856# enter exam number to register
• You will be charged R1-50 per minute
• Results will be sent to your phone once they are available
by MATRICSMATE APP
• Download for free from Google Play and Apple App Stores
Should learners have queries relating to registration and the use of the SABC Education Matric Results service, they can contact our call centre on 011 507 4630 Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm. However, on the day of the release, the call center will operate from midnight to 5pm.
