According to the Department of Basic Education, the impact of Covid-19 will be felt for a long time to come.
“We have taken a decision to postpone the May/June matric rewrite examinations. The exams were due to be written by more than 350 000, mainly part-time candidates, from May 4 to June 26,” said Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, on Thursday during a media briefing.
She said that due to the lockdown, preparations for the exams including printing and distribution of questions papers could not be completed.
The examinations will therefore, be merged with the November examinations.
“We estimate that over one million candidates will sit for the end-of-year matric examinations in this merged format,” the minister said.
The department also took the decision to cancel all school enrichment programmes such as Spelling BEE, the South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod, school sports, school trips, and assemblies.
“All of these will not be permitted in schools, until such time that we inform the public otherwise,” the minister said.
She added that parents should continue to pay school fees.
“We indicated from the start, that school fees are payable. We received reports that in some schools, parents did not pay fees and this has affected the salaries of SGB-appointed teachers.
“If you cannot pay because your circumstances have changed as a result of the Covid-19, please approach the school and communicate your challenges with them,” Motshekga said.