Five KwaZulu-Natal schools would rewrite two matric exams next week after last week's power failures forced the exams to be abandoned, the provincial legislature heard on Tuesday.

This emerged as senior Education Department officials briefed education portfolio committee members on the progress made since pupils began writing their exams last week.

The chief director of examinations, Morgan Naidoo, said that although the exams started off smoothly, power failures had caused problems. He cited five schools where typing exams were affected.

"Plans are in place for the subjects of typing and computyping to be written on the 24th of this month," said Naidoo, who also assured the committee the department was in constant contact with Eskom in an attempt to avoid problems.

Naidoo said security measures had been taken, including the involvement of the police, to ensure the integrity of the exams.

The Education Department came under fire for delays in payment of matric exam markers, with some committee members questioning the method used to pay individuals.

Committee members are set to visit some of the exam centres to see if operations are up to standard.