For the first time, some 2018 matric pupils will write their final examinations in three subjects that were not offered before.
The subjects include sign language, technical mathematics and technical science.
The 2018 matric final examaminations will start on Tuesday October 22, with more than 100,000 pupils in the province writing their English paper one exams.
In the Eastern Cape, there are 105,189 matriculants at 870 full-time public schools, 47 independent schools and 122 part- time centres.
For the first time, the department of basic education (DBE) will administer an examination in South African sign language to 58 deaf candidates across 10 schools in the country.
It could not be established how many pupils in the Eastern Cape will do sign language exams on November 6, but pupils at St Thomas School for the Deaf in King William’s Town and Efata School for the Deaf in Mthatha, will be sitting for these exams.
This is a welcome development, with the apparent shortage of sign language interpreters in the province, resulting in court cases involving deaf people often being delayed for long periods.
According to DBE spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, sign language experts would examine the pupils in sign language.
“We have piloted the assessment processes in this regard, and we don’t foresee any difficulties with this examination,” said Mhlanga.
Another first for the department are the technical mathematics and technical science examinations.
“The offering of these two subjects is in sync with the intention of the department to provide a broader scope of subject offerings for pupils, so as to allow for a stronger vocational slant in the curriculum,” said Mhlanga.
He said they had left no stone unturned in their bid to ensure “credible national senior certificate examinations”.
“The department has embarked on an intensive review of all its systems and processes and has taken cognisance of the limitations that may have presented a challenge in previous years and all these have been thoroughly addressed,” he said.
Mhlanga said examination centres that were implicated in any kind of examination malpractice in previous years, would be monitored by a resident monitor based at the school, and markers had been appointed.
Provincial education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said they had focused on improving six areas during the 2018 final exams.
Some of the areas included high quality question papers of the appropriate standard; the secure movement of question papers from origination to examination venues; detection and management of irregularities and the issuing of certificates on time.
All other grades will start their examinations at the beginning of November and finish in the last week of the month...