MATRIC exams in the Northern Province begin on Tuesday, with a big failure rate looming after disastrous mid-year trials. In the June trials, only 11% of pupils passed. Education MEC Edgar Mushwana has attributed the high failure rate to the fact that most teachers had not completed their syllabuses by June. Officials on Friday said that strict controls would prevent anyone tampering with question papers. Mushwana told reporters in Pietersburg that a private company has been contracted to deliver question papers to the seven regional offices and 31 district offices.