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Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga’s proud assurance that the 2012 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Examinations will proceed smoothly belies the reality that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and government has failed to adequately prepare and support learners throughout the year.

A fundamental distinction must be drawn between being ready to administer an exam versus having effectively prepared learners to write the exams.

Core disruptions and challenges faced by learners include:

• Northern Cape intimidation kept learners out of class

More than 16 000 learners, including numerous grade 12 Northern Cape learners who will be writing on Monday, were prevented from attending school for over three months as a result of politically motivated violent protests and intimidation. Government did not intervene timeously or decisively.

• Rampant teacher vacancies

The DBE is currently facing court action to compel the filling of 64 752 teacher vacancies in the Eastern Cape.

On the 3rd of August, the Eastern Cape High Court in Grahamstown ordered the DBE, who took over the running of the provincial department in March 2011, to pay outstanding salaries by 17 August and to fill vacancies by appointing teachers on a temporary basis by 02 September.

The Department missed both of these deadlines and a portfolio committee briefing by the DBE revealed that there is no comprehensive plan in place to address teacher shortages.

• Lack of basic education infrastructure

Learners are without basic education facilities with 22 938 schools not having stocked libraries, 21 021 not having any laboratory facilities and 19 037 not having computer centres.

How are learners supposed to learn when they have no one to teach them or when teachers are overwhelmed by large classes? How are learners supposed to learn and prepare for exams when they do not have the most basic of school infrastructure?

The DA will continue to hold the DBE and government accountable so that we do not have a repeat of these failures in years to come. We must collectively do all we can to provide learners with the best possible opportunities to succeed.