Glitch-free start to matric exams

THIS year's final matric exams got off to a trouble-free start, with pupils in both private and public schools sitting for their first exam yesterday.

Matric pupils in private schools sat for the engineering graphics and design and advanced programme English exams, while those in public schools wrote the information technology exam.

While the exams started yesterday, Monday marks the first major exam at both private and public schools, with pupils due to sit for the Afrikaans first additional language paper and the first English paper respectively.

On Monday more than 40000 matriculants in government schools wrote the computer applications technology exam.

The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exams, which run until November 28, will be written by 9978 full- and 519 part-time candidates at 191 centres.

More than 540 IEB matrics will write the exams at 14 centres in the Eastern Cape.

Marking will start on December 6 with the results expected on December 31.

For public schools, 551588 full- and 138037 part-time pupils will sit for the exams, which also run until November 28.

IEB chief executive Anne Oberholzer said there had been a smooth start to the exams.

The Eastern Cape is aiming for a 70% matric pass rate, which the Education Department said was possible given the interventions it had put in place this year, which included weekly extra classes and holiday camps. - Zandile Mbabela