Matric Final Exams: No wristwatches will be allowed
With matric final exams around the corner, the department has alluded that it is taking no chances to open room for cheating.
The matric final exams is traditionally the strictest exam a Grade 12 learner goes through in the history of their secondary education.
THE DURATION OF THE MATRIC FINAL EXAMS
The matric examinations will commence from 30 October until 5 December, which encompasses rules to abide by learners.
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With cheating becoming a common occurrence during the exams – tainting the image of the Department of Basic Education, this year the department is taking no chances.
While the common cheating tools have always been pieces of paper and cellphones – this year the department is eliminating an unusual ‘suspect’, a wristwatch.
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WHY WRISTWATCHES ARE PROHIBITED
The Department said besides cell phones not being allowed in exam rooms, DBE has instructed that no wristwatches be allowed for the NSC 2023 examination either. “This is to eliminate all possible means via which learners can access and/or share information digitally and online while writing their examination,” clarified the department.
To ensure digital devices are barred, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has, in 2023, introduced the use of super scanners at examination centres to mitigate the smuggling of cell phones.
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EXPERIENCED INVIGILATORS TO MONITOR HIGH-RISK CENTRES
The Department has also appointed additional Chief Invigilators and Monitors to be stationed at high-risk centres (i.e. high enrolment centres, centres with history of irregularities, independent centres) during the conduct of the examination to take over or strengthen the management of the examination at the identified centres.
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“All high-level security mechanisms remain in place and have been augmented to mitigate any leakages of question papers, including strict adherence to norm times when collecting and returning examination material before and after examination writing sessions.”
“The department has appointed service providers to augment security in districts – these include armed escorts, response units, and CCTV cameras for the duration of the examination,” GDE highlighted.
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