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Johannesburg - The matric class of 2014 can be proud when they get their certificate because this year's exams were challenging, education specialists said in Rapport on Sunday.
"The standard has definitely not fallen," said Dr Jonathan Clark, director of the schools development unit at the University of Cape Town's education department.
This is the first year pupils sat for the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) exams, the Afrikaans language newspaper noted.
Graeme Bloch from lobby group Equal Education said: "We must be careful of discouraging pupils who are trying to get good marks in the finals. If you get the certificate at the beginning of next year, it is definitely something to be proud of."
He said a change of curriculum would make people wonder over standards, but this year's exam was just as good as what he wrote years ago.
Dr Michael le Cordeu, curriculum specialist at the University of Stellenbosch said the class of 2014 would have different qualities --having developed their knowledge with their teachers.
"If you pass matric this year, you are not just a passive pupil who memorised his class handbook."
