This week the 2021 Matric exams begins and, with just over a day before things kick off, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has shared a statement that it is ready to administer the exams and urges the country to get behind its students.

897 786 students will sit for these exams broken down into 735 677 full-time students and 162 109 part-time ones.

This lot of almost one million students will begin writing on Wednesday, 27th October, with the English Home Language, English First Additional Language and English Second Additional Language Exams.

“The Department of Basic Education urges South Africans to rally behind the class of 2021 ahead of the start of the final grade 12 examinations this week. Parents are requested to be extra vigilant to ensure that learners do not resort to engaging in any activity relating to examination irregularities. Parents and learners across the country have signed a Commitment Agreement where they bind themselves to the conditions listed in the Commitment Agreement,” the DBE writes.

The key conditions of this Commitment Agreement can be found in the embed below from the department. It deals with deviations from examination rules, irregularities in behaviour and reporting of any leaks that are discovered.

Of note here is the conditions around phones with a register needing to be filled out with device details and submission of devices if they are found to have access to question papers ahead of time.

“All candidates will be required to complete the Electronic Devices’ Register, which will be managed by the school. The Electronic Devices’ Register will require all candidates to record all details of the cell phone or any other electronic device that they will be using during the examination period,” condition D of the Commitment Agreement reads.

“A candidate who is alleged to have had access to the question paper or parts of the question paper, prior to the examination, will be required to submit his/her cell phone or any other electronic device to the Department for further investigation,” adds condition F.

Only time will tell if measures like this will actually prevent question paper leaks from happening, or the reduction of spread if anything does get out.

The Department of Basic Education is ready to administer the 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. The #2021NSCExams will officially commence on Wednesday, 27 October 2021. pic.twitter.com/sxWroJ5MiZ

— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) October 25, 2021