Umalusi – the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training – approved the release of the 2013 national matric results, chief executive Mafu Rakometsi said on Monday.
"I am delighted, on behalf of Umalusi, to report that we have successfully delivered on our mandate," he told reporters in Pretoria.
"As we know, milestones and achievements are in most cases a product of collective effort. Today's media briefing is a pinnacle of the hard work by Umalusi staff, to ensure that Umalusi delivers on its mandate as a quality council."
He said the candidates and their parents were eager to know whether Umalusi had carried out the necessary processes that ensure the credibility of their qualifications.
Rakometsi said immense effort had been made to ensure the quality of the 2013 examination results.
Earlier this month, the basic education department said matric examination paper marking had been completed and Minister Angie Motshekga would release the national and provincial results on January 6.
On January 7 individual pupils' results would be available at schools and in print and online media.
The department said its 35 000 markers, working in 118 marking centres, completed their task on December 15 and the subsequent data capturing process had been concluded.
A total of 57 690 full-time and 130 646 part-time candidates sat for the exams in 6 699 centres.
The department said it had added security features, including a watermark and a serial number, to the statement of results to be issued to pupils. – Sapa