Mary Papayya

Mary Papayya

With just under a month to go before the release of this year's matric exam results, the Kwazulu-Natal education department yesterday assured the regions' more than 200000 matriculants that all was on track with the marking of exam scripts.

The department also dismissed reports that the marking had come to a standstill at two marking centres in the province.

Teacher unions expressed concern that poor logistical problems had severely disrupted marking in the region's two rural marking centres.

Sadtu provincial spokesman, Sipho Nkosi, said marking delays were experienced at the Bhekuzulu marking centre. "We were told that markers were incorporated into the University of Zululand marking centre.

"We are still waiting to get a report on the situation. This does not make us happy." Nkosi said.

National Teacher Union's Musa Gumede said marking at the James Nxumalo marking centre was also disrupted because accommodation facilities for teachers were not well planned.

"We were also told that there was no water for our members.

"Any delays in the marking process could delay the entire process. We appeal to the education department to sort out the problems," Nxumalo said.

The marking process began last Sunday at 26 centres across the province, with 9000 markers.