"It certainly wasn't easy, but not a train smash. As the matric class of 2014 we don't have a benchmark to work against as it is the first year that we are writing the new curriculum, Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements or Caps as it is commonly known. The comprehension was a bit tricky and certainly not as easy as I expected as I have worked through past matric papers," said Du Toit.
The Caps system was tested for the first time as this curriculum was introduced after the Education Department was forced to concede that the previous Outcomes Based Education did more harm than good to the education system.
Anri Holtzhausen, Jean-Pierre de la Bat and Lize Coetzee, from Outeniqua High School who wrote English First Additional Language, were happy with the paper. The pupils said that they feel the standard of English at Outeniqua that they studied, was of a higher standard than the exam they had just written. "It was appropriate for the stream we wrote."
David Samson, Institutional Management and Governance Planning (IMG) manager for the Eden Southern Karoo region, said he visited a number of schools today. "Generally, the pupils feel satisfied with the English paper for both streams. It is easy to spot those pupils that are well prepared as they are upbeat and ready. It is crunch time."
On Tuesday the matrics wrote accounting. The George Herald spoke to Marvin van Schalkwyk, Yoline Jordaan and Laura van Beulen at George High as they emerged from the examination hall. They felt that it was not all plain sailing as there were a few difficult questions that initially stumped them. The trio expressed their gratitude to their accountancy teacher Patty Pieterse who arranged for a trial exam in September where they realised their shortcomings. "We made the necessary shifts in our thinking as that exam paper made us stress. We are glad that the accounting exam is history."
Marvin van Schalkwyk, Laura van Beulen and Yoline Jordaan, from George High, were cautiously optimistic about the accounting paper.
From left: Anri Holtzhausen, Jean-Pierre de la Bat and Lize Coetzee, from Outeniqua High School, feel that the quality of English at their school is much better than was expected from their matric paper.
ARTICLE: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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