The Grahamstown matrics seem to have gotten off to a good start during the opening week of national examinations, and many of the learners had positive comments about the week.
The Grahamstown matrics seem to have gotten off to a good start during the opening week of national examinations, and many of the learners had positive comments about the week.
A total of 945 local learners are currently writing exams under the new curriculum, Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (Caps).
Learners talking to Grocott's Mail after their Geography paper Thursday 30 October said the week had been good so far, but it came as no surprise to learn that they were nervous about their Maths paper today.
"The languages were not tough at all and today's Geography paper 1, too, but I might experience difficulties with Maths Literacy tomorrow morning," said Anethemba Sandi, deputy president of the TEM Mrwetyana School Representative Council (SRC).
Siseko Stofile, president of Khutliso Daniels SRC echoed his sentiments.
"Maths Literacy is a bit tricky and I anticipate some problems, but other than that the week so far has been good, especially Monday's English paper 1 which was based on creative writing."
Khutliso Daniels shares the examination venue with Ntsika Secondary School and TEM Mrwetyana.
Lindelo Ramokolo, senior invigilator and principal of TEM Mrwetyana, said everything was going smoothly at the examination venue, thanks to the work done by fellow teachers who were invigilating. While the learners sounded upbeat and confident, Khutliso Daniels Principal Radio Mcuba, however, was concerned about the punishing timetable learners face.
"It is too strenuous for the learners," he said Tuesday.
"As we speak, they are busy with Accounting, a three-hour paper which they are expected to finish at 12 noon.
Then have to return at 2pm for another paper.
"That's the story for the rest of the week – it is too packed," Mcuba said. He said 27 pupils from Khutliso Daniels are writing the 2014 matric examinations.
District head Amos Fetsha told Grocott's last week that the district is aiming for a 70% overall pass rate for the class of 2014, a goal some see as unrealistic.
More than 69 000 pupils across the Eastern Cape wrote the English paper 1 on Monday, of these a staggering 61 050 wrote English First Additional Language while 8 302 wrote English Home Language.
Eastern Cape Department of Education MEC Mandla Makupula said this week that no irregularities had been reported from the 23 education districts, that includes1 431 public and independent examination centres.
After the exams finish on Monday 28 November the papers will be delivered to the 15 provincial marking centres, where marking takes place between 1 and 13 December.
The Department has made provision for 3 790 markers.
