The Department of Basic Education is confident that the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations will kick off and conclude without hassles.

This year, an excess of 727 000 full-time and 155 215 part-time candidates will take their seat to write the most important exam of their schooling career.

Addressing the media on the department’s readiness for the matric exams, Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube noted that many of the learners going to sit for their final exams have faced a range of challenges throughout their academic journeys, mainly due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in their earlier years of schooling.

A total of 162 quality-assured papers approved by Umalusi have been printed for this year’s final exams.

Gwarube added that distribution trucks will be equipped with tracking systems to monitor their movements and ensure that question papers reach exam centres on time and without compromise.