More than 97 000 learners, who failed their matric last year started with their supplementary examinations yesterday at various centres across the country, said the department of basic education (DoBE).
There are three categories of learners sitting for the examinations. The first category is for learners who failed two subjects; the second one is for those learners who missed the November 2009 examinations or specific subjects due to illness, and who could produce medical certificates and the third category is for learners who want to improve their results in specific subjects to gain university entrance.
DoBE’s Granville Whittle said the examinations commenced with the writing of German, Portuguese, Hebrew and Electrical Technology and will end on March 25, 2010 with the writing of Engineering Graphics and Design.
Whittle said the results of the supplementary examinations will be released at the examination centres where the learners sat for their examinations on April 30, 2010.
He claimed that all provinces are ready to administer the supplementary examinations. He said DoBE has taken over the administration of the supplementary examinations in Mpumalanga province where around 8 000 matriculants are sitting for the examinations.
This follows the matric examination scandal that rocked the provincial education department last year after five papers were leaked forcing Umalusi to withhold the results.
‘DoBE wishes all candidates well and wants to encourage them to take advantage of the support initiatives offered by the various provinces. All candidates are reminded that the Study Mate support materials, as well as previous examination papers including memoranda, are available on the departmental website,’ said Whittle.
Learners can visit the department’s website —www.education.gov.za