The North West department of Education and Sport Development confirmed their readiness for the Grade 12 examinations, which will start on Tuesday, 23 October 2018. The Grade 12 learners will kick-start their examinations by writing English subject.

The full time candidates are 34 716 whilst the part time candidates are 5 506 and the total is 40 222 candidates. Admission letters were printed and packed and distributed to schools. The last paper will be written on 28 November 2018 at 14:00, with 24 candidates who will be writing Design.

The training of the chief invigilators together with the invigilators was conducted by the department from the 21 – 30 August 2018 and there are 422 full time examination centres across the province.

Papers are stored centrally and will be collected under police escort on a weekly basis by Districts. Papers will be delivered daily from storage points to schools and scripts will be returned daily to the storage points. There is a 24 hours security to all storage points.

There are structures established for dealing with irregularities and are functional, namely: the Schools Assessment Irregularities Committees (SAIC), the Districts Assessment Irregularities Committees (DAICS), and the Provincial Examination Irregularities Committee (PEIC). Their key responsibilities will be to resolve all irregularities identified during the examination period.

There are three areas in the province which were affected by the unrests and schooling was extremely disturbed. The learners from Ramokokastad in Bojanala, Tshing Township near Ventersdorp in Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Madibogopan area in Ngaka Modiri Molema District were relocated to special venues to allow them to write in a peaceful area.

MEC Sello Lehari expressed that the province is targeting above 80 percent in the matric results.

“As a province I am optimistic that, our learners are going to do well in the forthcoming final examinations. Our target in the matric examinations is for us to obtain above 80 percent and that will definitely put us in the top three positions”, said MEC Lehari.

MEC Lehari will monitor two schools in Mafikeng namely Lapologang Secondary school (07:30) and Barolong High School (10:00).

The matric results will be released on Friday, 4 January 2019.