Pretoria - Parents and well-wishers gathered outside schools in Pretoria early this morning to wish the Class of 2010 well ahead of their first exam paper.
Learners started writing Computer Application Technology Paper 2 and Information Technology Paper 2 at 9am.
Many parents accompanied their teenagers on the way to school to wish them luck and try to calm their nerves. Some were seen hugging and kissing the learners as they entered the examination hall.
Moepone Kgarebisane, who accompanied her daughter Charmaine to school this morning, told BuaNews that her daughter had been working hard to prepare for this day. "I have even taken over some of her duties at home so as to give her more time to prepare for the exams," said.
Charmaine, a learner at Akasia Hoerskool, north of Pretoria, is not the only matric who had been studying hard.
"I can't wait to start with the examinations, I'm prepared. I'm confident I'm going to make it," said Keneilwe Moteane, 19, from the same school.
Naville Smith, 20, who wants to study Civil Engineering at the University of Pretoria next year, said he was excited that the day had finally arrived. "Although I'm a bit nervous, I'm sure it will be alright," he said.
Another matric pupil at the school, Jeffrey Kgwebo, 20, told BuaNews he wanted to study Information Technology at the University of Johannesburg and that he had already submitted his application forms. He said now he just had to do well in his exams and wait for the results.
At Princess Park Secondary School in Roslyn, also north of Pretoria, matriculants were in high spirits and looking forward to the exam.
Gert Oosthuizen, 19, said he was fully prepared for the examination. "It's going to be a walkover," he said.
The results of the matric final exams will be released on 6 January 2011.
