Matrics to write finals from November

GRADE 12 pupils would sit for their final National Senior Certificate examinations from November 5 until December 15, and their results would only be released on February 23 next year, the Department of Basic Education announce yesterday..

Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said a decision was taken by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to administer the May/June 2020 examinations concurrently with the October/ November 2020 exams.

Mhlanga said more than 1.1million candidates were expected to sit the 2020 combined matric exams and every registered candidate would receive an admission letter by September, listing the subjects for which they had registered.

He said the late commencement of the final Grade 12 examinations would allow schools and pupils adequate time to cover the curriculum and to ensure that ample time was allocated for revision of the syllabus.

“Candidates are once again reminded that this is a combined examination, which implies that all candidates who were scheduled to write the Senior Certificate examination in May/June 2020 and have already registered will be allowed to write this examination.”

He said candidates who were originally scheduled to write the October/November examinations would write two papers each, in business studies and accounting, whereas those who would have written the May/ June examination would write one paper each, in business studies and accounting.

Progressive Principals’ Association spokesperson Faiek Abrahams said the exams would obviously be a source of anxiety for this year’s matriculants because of the pandemic. He said a lot of pressure was on matric teachers, especially in schools from disadvantaged communities, to catch up on school work lost during lockdown and to complete the year’s syllabus.

“Our pupils are not coping emotionally with the uncertainty and the fear of contracting Covid-19.”

Matakanya Matakanye, general secretary of the National Association of School Governing Bodies, said the association would seek clarity from the department. “How will they write that? May/June is half-year to test, in order to apply for university entry. It does not make sense. However, we have to take it on board.”

Brian Isaacs, interim secretary for The Progressive Organisation Formation, said the organisation would have to decide whether Grade 12 pupils should write at the end of the year or in February.

Isaacs said he believed that Grade 12 pupils needed more time for teaching and preparation.