Media Release
Minister of Education Debbie Schäfer
Western Cape

26 October, 2016

Minister Schäfer visits Kleinvlei High School as the majority of candidates begin writing the 2016 NSC.

Statement by Minister Debbie Schäfer, Minister of Education

For the majority of our NSC candidates, today marked the start of the 2016 NSC examination period with many candidates across the Western Cape writing their first NSC examination - English Home Language, English First Additional Language and English Second Additional Language.

Today I visited Kleinvlei High School where 153 candidates wrote their first exam.

I visited the school to find out first-hand from candidates how they felt about their first written examination of the 2016 NSC.

When asked how the paper had gone, most were happy with it.

Kleinvlei High School has seen a significant improvement in their results, with the school achieving an 82.2% pass rate in 2015, compared to 69.6% in 2014. The school aims to achieve above 85% pass rate in the 2016 NSC.

School Principal, Mr Fredericks, who has served as the Principal for 20 years, says that he is proud of his Grade 12's who have worked hard and consistently since the start of the school year. He says that 'through the dedication and commitment of our learners, we as the school community of Kleinvlei High believe that the sky is the limit and just maybe we can turn the murky and muddy waters of Kleinvlei into a field of blooming white lilies and achieve a 90% pass rate'.

Since the beginning of the 2016 academic year the District and the school have arranged extra classes after school and during the winter School and Spring School holidays.

Metro East Circuit Manager, Mark Mofoking says that the school will bid farewell to Mr Fredericks this year. Mr Mofoking says that "his willingness to give people another chance, epitomises his tenure as principal and community worker. He is always willing to go the extra mile for his learners and has become a legendary household brand over the years in serving the local community."

We extend our warmest and best wishes to Mr Fredericks as we bid him farewell and I would like to thank him for his dedication to education in the Western Cape.

The numbers for full-time and part-time candidates registered to write these subjects are as follows:

This year 53 146 full-time candidates and 13 185 part-time candidates will be writing the 2016 NSC.

The marking of the examinations will take place from around the 5 December 2016 to 15 December 2016. The WCED has 3 881 markers to mark the examination scripts.

To ensure that the mark calculations of our markers are correct, the WCED has appointed 575 mark checkers.

The much-anticipated results of the NSC are expected to be announced on the 5^th of January 2016 by Minister Motshekga. Schools and candidates will receive their results on the 6^th January

We encourage all our candidates for the 2016 NSC examinations to stay focused and to put in the hard work required to prepare for the remainder of the examinations.

I have every confidence in our matrics who have worked hard throughout the school year.

I wish them all the best of luck for this final leg of their school career and am positive that they will do both themselves and this province proud.

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