Xerox, the global digital printing company, has secured a printing contract with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, whereby it will print, bind and barcode Grade 11 exam papers. Xerox is already printing the exam papers for Grade 12 in the province and will expand its offering to the department by adding 20 million Grade 11 final exam papers to the printing solution.
"Security is a top priority for us and the department has not had any leaks in the last five years," comments Dr Morgan Naidoo, director of examinations for the Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal. "The printing solution from Xerox will not only cater for the high printing volume, but it will also ensure the best security currently available in the world."
Xerox implemented a DocuTech 6180 printer on its premises, incorporating the CPBourgh BDFX finisher and operating on Xerox`s DigiPath software. The finisher will enable the folding and packaging of each exam paper, while the DigiPath software will ensure that the exam papers are submitted directly to the Xerox printing network, with minimal human intervention. Although the entire process is outsourced to Xerox, the exam papers never leave the department`s premises until the time of the exams.
"Printing on the new network printers from Xerox ensures the best security features," comments Denzil Bourne, sales manager of Xerox in KwaZulu-Natal. "The department needed a solution to print examination papers for the whole province in a highly secure environment. Each exam paper must be barcoded and batches of exam papers must be sealed in a special tamperproof plastic package, which is also barcoded per school and exam district. Each pack of exam papers is tracked via bar code reading equipment to ensure a `closed loop` cycle, from print to delivery."
Dr Naidoo concludes that the solution from Xerox is a benchmark in examination paper printing in SA as it combines the best security features with quick turnaround time and a manageable printing process.
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