The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is fully prepared for the 62,251 learners who have entered to write the Senior Certificate Examinations this year, and it is all systems go.

The breakdown of the number of learners writing, is 42,694 full-time; 12,532 part-time; and 7,025 private candidates. In total it represents an increase of 2,419 more learners then last year.

I am pleased with the steady increase in the number of candidates registering to write matric, which is a positive sign. The examinations, from 09 October to 22 November, will be written in 535 examination centres, with 182 papers.

Eleven national question papers will be written, with Geography, Afrikaans 2nd Language, Economics, Business Economics and Agricultural Science added for the first time this year.

While we are pleased with our pass rate in the previous years, we are more concerned with the number who write and the quality of passes.

I am particularly eager to see progress in the number of candidates from disadvantaged communities gaining access to university, especially candidates passing mathematics and science on the higher grade.

Last year, 34 high schools received a pass rate of less then 60%. The WCED has identified these schools, and has worked intensively with them throughout the year to give them extra support.

Acquiring the Senior Certificate represents a very important qualification to a better world. I know that many of our learners have been learning under the most difficult of circumstances.

I therefor want to urge our parents to support the matrics in preparing for this exams, and give them space and time to concentrate on their studies.

As Government we are committed to growing and sharing the Western Cape economy. But it can only happen if we have young people who are equipped with relevant skills and knowledge, to help build the country.

I wish all of our matriculants well, and urge them to keep focus. Please use the last few days to cover certain subject areas you are unsure of, and prepare for this examination to the best of your ability, and just give your very best.

SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION 2006
IMPORTANT STATISTICS

  1. Total number of candidates

	2004	2005	2006
Full-time	41 828	41 385	42 694
Part-time	10 837	11 551	12 532
Private	5 857	6 896	7 025
Total	58 522	59 832	62 251

  2. Number of examination centres: 535

  3. Examination dates: 9 October 2006 to 22 November 2006

  4. Number of examination papers to be written: 182

  4.1 Number of national question papers: 11

       Added in 2006 for first time:
       Geography, Afrikaans 2nd Language, Economics, Business Economics and Agricultural Science.

       Existing national papers:
       History, Mathematics, English 2nd Language, Accounting, Physical Science and Biology.

  4.2 Number of examination paper copies: 20 million

  5. Number of examination scripts: ± 1 million

  6. Number of mark sheets: 57 000

  7. Number of markers to mark 1 million scripts: 2 200

  8. Marking period: 30 November 2006 to 6 December 2006

  9. Total number of students (mark checkers): 350

10. Invigilators to perform duties at 535 examination centres: 2 500

11. Pass rate 2005: 84,4% (2004: 85%, 2003: 87.1%)