WCED, universities set out contingency plans for rolling blackouts during exams

THE Western Cape Education Department and universities across the Western Cape are working around the clock to ensure that exams will run smoothly for matric pupils and students.

The WCED confirmed that 23 000 pupils will participate in Spring School during the school holidays.

Under the shadow of load shedding, plans and operations have been put into place, such as for the printing of exam papers.

The WCED together with universities in the Cape are calling on Eskom to ensure that load shedding does not prevent students from writing their exams.

Stellenbosch University has equipped its facilities with 50 generators across all campuses and their students are not affected by load shedding.

UCT has engaged in meetings this week and also has generators on board, while several residences are located on the grid of Groote Schuur Hospital which has exempted them from load shedding.

Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said they were also providing psychosocial support for pupils during the exam period and called on Eskom to ensure that load shedding did not affect them.

“At least 23 000 learners will attend Spring School over the coming school holiday, adding to the very successful Winter School held earlier this year,” she said.

“Once again, we approach the exam period having to contend with load shedding. This is extremely disappointing and is understandably causing concern for our learners. We will do everything we can to prevent load shedding from compromising the integrity of the matric exams in the Western Cape.

“Contingency measures are being put in place to ensure that every aspect of the examination process can continue, from the printing of papers to the marking of scripts.

“Psychosocial support for our matrics is also being given serious attention in the run-up to the exams.

“It’s a stressful time for our matrics, and they need all the support they can get.

“Social workers have been on hand during residential camps to support learners in need and to conduct motivational sessions with matrics. Workshops are being run in schools focusing on self-care, exam anxiety, study skills, motivation, time management, relaxation and stress management skills, and a host of other topics.

“Printed and online psychosocial support materials are available to learners, and individual counselling and support is being made available to learners who need it.

“We urge any learner struggling to cope with the pressure to approach their teacher for help, or to contact the Safe Schools hotline on 0800 45 46 47 (toll free).”

UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola said they had a contingency plan in place and made venues available for students to study where the power supply is not interrupted due to load shedding.

“UCT has put in place a number of measures to facilitate the academic programme in response to the national load shedding situation, in particular due to the escalation to stage 6,” he said.

“The UCT Leadership Lekgotla met earlier this week to urgently look at interventions that are in place and those that could be implemented, both in the immediate and longer term.

“The UCT leadership agreed to request all course conveners and deans to exercise compassion and discretion in granting concessions to students who may have been affected and may still be affected in completing their academic work, particularly with respect to the challenges of escalated load shedding which resulted in the failure of the UCT data centre on September 18.

“The university has a number of sites that have redundant power supplies (that will have powered network points during load shedding).

“Three UCT residences have UPS and generators set up – Obz Square, Avenue Road Residence and Graça Machel Hall. A further six residences are on the Groote Schuur Hospital grid, and are therefore exempt from load shedding. These are Clarinus, Clarendon, Rochester, Groote Schuur Residence, Liesbeeck Gardens and Medres.

“Working with the spaces available, UCT will extend the list of venues with back-up power and that are accessible to provide study spaces, as not all of our buildings are suitable.

“On September 19 the university brought additional UCT shuttle buses into service to transport students to parts of the campus that had connectivity and if this is needed again further shuttles will be provided.”

Stellenbosch University spokesperson Martin Viljoen said they were well prepared for load shedding. “Over the last few years, the university installed emergency power (50 generators across all our campuses) in most of the academic and other essential buildings critical to ensure a continuation of learning, teaching and research. Load shedding should thus not impact on-campus examinations.

“These buildings are operational during load shedding for the duration of the academic day, from 6am to 6pm.

“The university will also continue to create awareness among students on being informed about their assessment timetables, how the load-shedding schedules might impact their preparation and where applicable to download study material.”

Eskom did not respond with comment by deadline.

FILE THE Western Cape Education Department is making preparations ahead of the exams amid continuous blackouts, and is appealing to Eskom to ensure the lights do not go out. |