Media Release
Minister of Education Debbie Schäfer
Western Cape

21 October, 2015

Tight Security Measures for NSC Exam credibility in Western Cape.

Statement by Minister Debbie Schäfer, Minister of Education

Maintaining the integrity of the NSC examination is key and it is for this reason that today, I visited the NSC examination paper vault to assess security arrangements ahead of the 2015 National Senior Certificate examinations.

The vault, which contains the 2015 NSC examination papers, is under strict security surveillance to ensure that there are no possible leakages or irregularities.

It is the intention of the WCED to ensure that the examination process is equitable and fair. Therefore strict security arrangements are necessary to ensure the integrity of the examinations.

Security measures include:

• Papers are printed, packaged and immediately sealed in a tamper-proof bag so that it cannot be tampered with.

• Examination papers are stored and packaged in a highly secured vault with only selected and very experienced officials permitted to work with the sealed papers.

• Each member of the staff has been screened and is monitored closely by security cameras. No cellphones are allowed.

• Every examination paper is bar-coded when printed to enable us to track every paper. Each candidate also has to place a bar-coded sticker on their examination script. This sticker enables the department to track every script through the entire examinations process. They are also then requested to fill in their unique examination number.

• Learners are also monitored during the examinations and markers have been trained to identify any irregularities in the examination.

• Invigilators were trained to be extremely attentive and pupils are warned of severe penalties if caught cheating.

I am certainly impressed with the arrangements that have been put in place. This is a huge logistical exercise that requires careful planning and tight management.

While we cannot always predict some extreme circumstances, I am confident that the Department has made all the necessary arrangements to avoid, where possible, any irregularities.

I would like to thank all the relevant WCED officials for their dedication and commitment to ensuring the validity, credibility and smooth running of the 2015 NSC examinations.

I look forward to a peaceful and fair examination process and am confident that we will ensure that every candidate in the Western Cape is given every opportunity to do their best in a fair examination.

Media enquiries:
Jessica Shelver
Spokesperson for the Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 076 175 0663