Media Release
Minister of Education Donald Grant
Western Cape

30 December, 2011

Minister Grant responds to the certification by Umalusi of the 2011 National Senior Certificate Examinations

Statement by Minister Donald Grant, Minister of Education, Western Cape

I welcome the fact that Umalusi has approved the release of results of the 2011 National Senior Certificate examinations after the completion of the relevant standardisation meeting and quality assurance processes.

Umalusi has also confirmed that the administration of the examinations – an extensive and complex operation – had taken place without any reported significant incidents or leaks.

In the Western Cape, marking took place smoothly and as planned. In the best interests of the candidates the WCED will continue to take steps to ensure that the markers involved are of the highest standard. These steps include the use of competency testing in selected subjects.

There are positive signs of the steady maturing of the grade 12 public examination system. The overwhelming majority of the raw scores captured were accepted without adjustment in the standardisation process and indications from independent experts and agencies are that the quality of the examination papers themselves was of a satisfactory standard.

Against this background, I look forward to the release on 4 January 2012 of the national results by the Minister of Basic Education.

Issued by:
Paddy Attwell
Director: Communication
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 021 467 2531
Fax: 021 461 3694