Pretoria:Umalusi CEO Dr. Mafu Rakometsi has assured the public that examination bodies have systems in place to address and manage assessment and examination irregularities. This announcement was made during a media briefing on Thursday regarding the state of readiness for upcoming final examinations, which are set to start on October 13.
According to South African Government News Agency, Dr. Rakometsi emphasized the importance of handling any irregularities within the established systems and in accordance with regulations governing assessments and examinations. He urged assessment bodies to take all necessary steps to prevent such issues and warned candidates against using unlawful means to gain an unfair advantage, stressing the importance of hard work and honesty.
A total of 1,079,879 candidates will be participating in various examinations, including the General Education and Training Certificate Adult Basic Education and Training, National Certificate (Vocational) Level 4, and National Senior Certificate examinations. Dr. Rakometsi expressed concern over recurring irregularities in assessment tasks at Department of Higher Education colleges, highlighting the need for comprehensive planning and adequate resources.
To ensure compliance with relevant regulations, Umalusi will deploy officials to monitor the examinations. Dr. Rakometsi also cautioned against the unlawful practice of preventing registered candidates from taking exams to improve results, urging immediate reporting of such incidents to authorities.
The examination timetable has been adjusted to accommodate the Local Government Elections on November 4, which may coincide with the examination period. Umalusi plans to work with assessment bodies and other stakeholders to prevent disruptions caused by election-related activities. The agency appealed to communities and stakeholders to minimize disruptions and support candidates during this critical time.