Matric exam marker Gonasundree Pillay, stationed at Durban High School, which was visited by education officials yesterday, spoke to KZN Education MEC Senzo Mchunu, standing.

After KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Senzo Mchunu visited several exam marking centres in Durban yesterday, he urged markers to be objective and consistent in their work.

As marking of exam papers began earlier this week, Mchunu and other education officials visited VN Naik School for the deaf in Newlands East before going to Durban High School in Musgrave.

The aim of the visit to these schools, which are among the 29 marking centres that have been set up in 11 districts in the province, is to assess their state and the security levels.

A total of 150 326 matric candidates – 127 044 full-time and 23 342 part-time – wrote the exam in the province.

The KZN Department of Education has appointed about 9 170 markers to mark about 1.7 million scripts, while 900 administrative assistants and 200 administrative officials have been tasked with undertaking the checking process and the submission of marking sheets for the capturing of marks.

An additional 50 standby markers have been appointed.

“Marking of matric papers is on track. A provincial report about the state of marking shows that everything is going well without any reports of irregularities or incidents. The department has a watchful eye over the marking process. It does not mean that, since marking is commencing smoothly, security will relax. It will be like this until the end of marking,” Mchunu said.

Marking will end on December 15.

Mchunu said he understood that some markers were away from home and were out of their comfort zones, but he urged them to be alert.

“Each and every marker must be aware of everything when marking,” he said.

Mchunu said security was tight and every exam script had to be accounted for.

“When a script has to move out of a room and into a different venue, it has to be recorded,” he said.

Nkosinathi Sishi, Education Department superintendent-general, said the turn-out of markers was good and no absenteeism had been reported since marking began.

“The standby markers are there in case a marker is sick or cannot come to work,” he said.

Education officials will continue to visit other marking centres.

Barney Mthembu, the provincial exam chief director, said markers who lived outside the school premises had their vehicles checked for weapons, alcohol and firearms when reporting for duty.

slindile.maluleka@inl.co.za