Matric exam centers facing challenges

Matric exam centers facing challenges

Date Published: November 23, 2020

Pressures are high amongst students to perform well in their final exams. Exam centres are facing challenges as people go to extreme lengths to pass their final exams.

Some exam centres have experienced cases of candidates having other people write exams on their behalf. 

Rufus Poliah, Basic Education Chief Director of National Assessment and Public Examinations said the Department of Basic Education has faced this problem before. 

“A phenomenon that we have had previously, that seems to be resurfacing is what we refer to as imposter. An imposter is sometimes referred to as a ghost candidate. Technically what happens during this situation is one other individual or adult decides to write on behalf of the registered candidate,” says Poliah.

The Department of Education has faced two cases of ghost candidates. One who was arrested whilst the second ghost candidate managed to disappear.

Pupils deemed fit after testing positive for Covid-19 allowed to write exams

The night before the start of the exams, the department announced that Covid-19 positive learners would be allowed to write the final exams. This caused some confusion as the department has previously said that these learners would not be allowed to write exams.

Learners who test positive will not write their exams in regular examination venues. Provisions have been made for students who test positive to write in isolation in the following venues;

  • Clinics
  • Hospitals
  • Community halls
  • Church halls 
    Or
  • Any other venue that could be suitable for writing an examination.

Isolation venues will be monitored by education officials and health officials. All venues have to follow strict Covid-19 protocol.

Social distancing can be extended beyond the 1.5 metre requirement due to the limited number of students that would be in isolation venues.

To prevent the spread of Covid-19, students who have tested positive for Covid-19 have to follow this procedure; The exam paper of a positive student must be inserted by the student, in the presence of the invigilator, into the plastic security bag and sealed by the student.

The student is also required to sanitize the security bag and drop it into a box made for this purpose.

Author: Omega Fumba