Raymond Seanego, Tumelo Matlou, Banele Madonsela will sit for first matric exams on Monday. Picture: Supplied
As the matric class of 2024 prepares to write their first examination on Monday, some matriculants have expressed huge excitement while others voiced nervousness.
Hundreds of Grade 12 learners are set to write English and Afrikaans. About 882,336 Grade 12 learners will write English, while in private schools, some 16,400 pupils will undertake the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) exams.
Speaking with IOL News, some learners expressed joy, while others voiced anxiety and pointed out the challenges they faced throughout the year.
Raymond Seanego, 21, from Weenen Combined School in Mokopane, Limpopo said that he is extremely excited as he has been eagerly awaiting for this moment.
“This has been the moment I have been waiting for from the day I registered. I am feeling like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders at last,” he said.
Seanego, who plans to study teaching at the University of the Western Cape said he used past question papers to study.
“I have made an analysis using past five question papers to maybe spot the examiner, but I am well prepared come hell or high water.”
Seanego said it was not an easy road, as he had to buy his own study materials owing to a school shortage.
“Lack of study materials has been a challenge, as I had to buy two study guides for Mathematics at R200 and one for Sepedi for R100, and even spent over R1,000 on buying data to watch educational videos on YouTube,” he said.
Banele Madonsela, 20, from Itirele Zenzele Comprehensive high school in Diepsloot, north of Gauteng, said he is also excited.
“I am so ecstatic, because to be honest, I didn’t think I would make it this far.”
Madonsela said power supply shortages throughout the year had been his biggest headache.
“It was not an easy journey because there was a time where in our community we did not have electricity, and during that time it was difficult for me to study and do my school work,” he said.
Tumelo Matlou, 18, from the Edward Phatudi Maths, Science and ICT School of Specialisation in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, voiced nervousness about writing his final exams.
“I am so nervous, because this is the last time I will write exams as a high school learner and I need to get good results as I want to study biochemistry.”
He too faced challenges, with power outages affecting his preparation for the exams.
“Power outages has been the biggest challenge this year, because there was no way I could study without the lights on. We had to buy a rechargeable bulb,” he said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has since wished them well.
“I’d like to wish all the matriculants in our country who start their examinations on Monday a great deal of luck.
“Matric is quite a challenging exam but I know that our matriculants are up to it,” he said.
The exams will conclude on November 28.
Marking is set to commence on December 1, and conclude on December 10.
The National Minister of Education is expected to release the matric results on January 15, 2025.
Schools will receive the results the next day.
IOL News