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Tuesday, 29 October 2013] 48915. Input by the National Department of Basic Education (DBE)Dr R Poliah, Chief Director of Examinations, welcomed the engagementswith the Western Cape Education Department on examination readiness.He reiterated that the National Department of Basic Education had a closeworking relationship with the Western Cape Education Department. Thiswas maintained through the National Examination and AssessmentCommittee. This forum allowed for discussion of all issues of mutualinterest. For the DBE to produce error-free question papers, various levelsof editing and quality control were introduced. However, this still resulted inpapers with minor errors. For this reason, the DBE was employingadditional professionals to quality check papers. This had resulted in adelay in making papers available to provinces. The Department was awareof the pilot in respect of the delivery of papers by the WCED. The DBEwould monitor this process and look at the best practice for the delivery ofpapers across the country. Dr Poliah reiterated that the WCED was one ofthe leaders in maintaining a good system through the analysis andavailability of data to schools. The WCED was very responsive to anysuggestions by the DBE.6. Engagements with Organised Labour (SADTU and NAPTOSA)In general, both SADTU and NAPTOSA were in agreement with most ofthe issues raised by the WCED. The unions enjoyed a good workingrelationship and collaboration with the Department in the Province. Therewere very few challenges faced during the 2012 NSC examinations asthere was regular interaction with the WCED through the examinationboard that was in existence. Unions generally trusted the WCED toadminister the examinations in a diligent and effective manner. However, in2013 the examination board was disbanded, which left unions uninformedas to developments in respect of examination readiness. Unions wereuncertain of the reasons for the disbanding of the examination board. Todate, unions had no reports on the state of readiness of the WCED for the2013 NSC examinations. The unions requested that the following beaddressed as a matter of urgency:• The establishment of a multi-lateral discussion forum while theWCED worked on an alternative to the redundant examinationsboard.• The improvement of safety and security at schools, especiallywhere gangsterism was prevalent.• Clarity on the issues around the pilot being run for the delivery ofquestion papers. What was the rationale for changing from the useof couriers? Whether this was a safer option.• Clear and unambiguous policy directives in respect of irregularitiesrelating to the use of cell phones• SADTU still had challenges in respect of the competency test formarkers, - though they participated in the nominations for themarking processes.ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS NO 147─2013