Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga promises increased security around 2023 matric exam papers, venues

BASIC Education Minister Angie Motshekga has wished the Matric Class of 2023 well in their exams.

Over 700,000 Grade 12 learners are writing their National Senior Certificate Examinations.

Motshekga on Monday morning was at Rhodesfield School of Specialisation in Ekurhuleni to monitor the start of matric exams.

She was joined by Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.

Speaking at a media briefing over the weekend, Motshekga said Umalusi had approved all question papers to be administered in the October/November 2023 exams.

She said they had enhanced security measures to prevent paper leaks in all nine provinces.

This is in the wake of a cheating scandal in Mpumalanga last year where teachers sent learners the correct answers to one exam via a WhatsApp chat.

“We’ve enhanced security measures to prevent paper leaks in all nine provinces. The State Security Agency has also audited these processes. Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) must follow standard operating procedures training storage point managers in security protocols. Moreover, specific collection times for question papers by chief invigilators have been established to deter early access. Each PED has its own irregularity committee to anticipate and mitigate crises,” said Motshekga.

She said to mitigate the challenge of load shedding, all PEDs and schools had devised contingency plans, including back-up generators. Motshekga said they would offer a back-up paper if needed due to power interruptions.

In South African Sign Language Home Language, candidates’ laptops will be fully charged before each exam commences and back-up power supply measures had been put in place.

The Star