Tebogo Monama

Tebogo Monama

Pupils around the country ended their final matric examinations yesterday.

They wrote history and general history paper 2.

Western Cape pupils are the only ones who are still left with one paper to write.

This is because the province's education department ordered a rewrite of the English First Language paper 2 on November 23.

The decision was taken after an incident at the South African College High School on October 10 when an incorrect paper was handed to some of the candidates.

Following the leak, the department terminated the contract of the chief invigilator at the college and issued a verbal warning to the head of the English department at the school.

In Gauteng, 88600 full-time and 68958 part-time pupils registered for the exams this year. The figures indicate an increase of 15413 full-time and 8359 part-time compared with last year.

The marking of exam papers began on November 3 and 6723 markers were appointed in Gauteng. Marking is conducted in four staggered sessions at seven centres over four weeks and is expected to end on December 2.

Another exam scandal hit Western Cape again last week when pupils wrote a letter to the province's education department complaining that teachers allowed pupils at Fezeka High School in Gugulethu to refer to their textbooks during two exams.

The two exams were Afrikaans and economics. Three invigilators have since been suspended and the department is investigating the principal's role in the scandal.

Matric results are expected on December 28.