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Eastern Cape Admininstration is ready for Examinations
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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MEDIA STATEMENT
 TO ALL MEDIA
 7 OCTOBER 1999


EC ADMINISTRATION IS READY FOR THE EXAMINATIONS

National minister of Education Professor Kadar Asmal says he is convinced that the provincial government is track in preparation for the 
end of the year examinations this year. The announcement was made at a media briefing following a meeting between the Minister, EC Premier 
Makhenkesi Stofile, Education MEC Stone Sizani and Finance MEC Enoch Godongwana in Bisho today.

Professor Asmal is on a one-day visit to the Eastern Cape to assess the administration’s state of readiness for the examinations as well as 
progress made in the procurement and supply of learning support material for the opening of schools next year.

He said the integrity of the matric examinations is vital for the province and especially the students, saying the marking of papers, 
security of the examinations material and marking are critical issues that have to be addressed. He also announced that matric examination 
results would be announced by the 30 December 1999 to avoid any problems relating to the Y2K phenomenon, and that a strict time-table is 
being followed to ensure that the deadline is met.

He said teaching would start on the first day of learning, with learning material available by the beginning of next year. Professor Asmal 
said: "minimum learning material must be available on the first day of school next year." "Learners must learn, educators must teach, 
managers must manage and governing bodies must govern," Professor Asmal said. He made an appeal to all stakeholders in education to ensure 
that "there is peace and order in our schools," and that the 196 learning days be used in total with all other school programmes taking 
place outside school hours.

Next year the Outcomes Based Education (OBE) will be introduced to grades three and seven and they would need new material which the 
government would rake funds to ensure minimum resources required were available. Responding to question he said the focus of the department 
is on objective processes of the administration and not on the subjective, intellectual and moral readiness of the students. He said the 
government would focus on even those subjective matters next year to ensure preparedness of for the examinations.

He said the recent findings revealed that 60% of learners at grade three could not read or count proving that there was something wrong 
with teaching. He said he plans to introduce the assessments at grades three, six and nine so that they can build more confidence of 
students.

MEC for Education Mr Stone Sizani welcomed the support of the national education department. He said it would go a long way in improving 
not only the work of the department but also the awareness of the public about the seriousness of the government in tackling the challenges 
of education.

Regarding the problems related to delays in payment of learning material suppliers, MEC Sizani said the department has set itself a 
deadline of October 15 to settle all outstanding payments. The aim is to ensure all requisite supplies for the beginning of the academic 
year would be available as outlined in the President’s state of the nation address.

Issued: Communications Division – Office of the Premier

Inquiries: Manelisi Wolela – 040 6391543 / 6092002

Papama Mfenyana – 040-6084214



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