Mr Speaker, the national senior certificate, NSC, or Grade 12 examination, will formally start on 17 October 2011 with practical subjects, while the examination for other learners will start on 24 October 2011. The ANC is pleased to note that the new system of NSC examination is maturing and stabilising, with a few aspects that are being improved annually. It is all systems go and the department has reported a clean state of readiness, with a few areas of concern.
There are 512 029 full-time and 108 237 part-time candidates registered. The number has gone down by 21 735 learners from the 2010 enrolments. To us as the ANC, this is a concern and it will have to be addressed in the near future.
In total, 325 question papers have been set, 65 000 invigilators and 35 000 markers have been appointed, and 127 marking centres have been approved. High-quality question papers have been set, with comments from the 2010 review process having been incorporated into the 2011 setting process. The ANC values this. The printing, packing and distribution processes of question papers and the collection of scripts have been afforded the security and confidentiality required.