With just days to go before the national senior certificate exams kick off, education authorities are on high alert to combat the leaking of papers.

A teacher and two pupils have already appeared in an Mpumalanga court in connection with possession of leaked maths, science and accounting exams.

In KwaZulu-Natal, police are investigating claims of another possible security breach in that province. In the Western Cape, the Education Department says it has kept the team handling the papers very small so as to minimise the security risk.

Head of Department Brian Schreuder says exam leaks affect the entire country.

"We have high security and vigilance in the province," says Schreuder.