Basic education has failed to prepare matric pupils: DA

The basic education department has failed to adequately prepare pupils for the matric final year exams, the DA said on Thursday.

A distinction should be drawn between being ready to administer an exam and having effectively prepared pupils to write, the Democratic Alliance said in a statement.

"Minister Angie Motshekga's proud assurance that the examinations will proceed smoothly belies the reality that the department and government [have] failed to prepare and support pupils throughout the year," said DA basic education spokeswoman Annette Lovemore.

Motshekga said earlier in the day that all provinces were ready for the exams, which start on Monday.

Lovemore said class disruptions were among the problems pupils faced.

"In the Northern Cape, intimidation kept pupils out of class for months. The department is facing a court action to compel it to fill [thousands of] teacher posts in the Eastern Cape."

A briefing to the portfolio committee on education by the department had revealed there was no comprehensive plan in place to address teacher shortages.

Lovemore said a lack of facilities such as libraries, laboratories and computer centres added to the problems at schools.