Union calls for later start of matric exams
COSAS also said it wanted the contents of this year's matric exams to be trimmed by as much as 50%
THE South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has called on the Department of Basic Education to push back the start of the matric exams from 5 November to 25 November to give pupils more time to prepare.
More than 90 000 matric pupils in the King Cetshwayo district are gearing up for their final examinations.
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The matric class of 2020 faced serious academic challenges this year as the national lockdown saw schools closed for almost four months, causing severe time constraints to an already stressful period.
‘Many learners have not been in a position to fully prepare for the NSC examinations, especially those in disadvantaged communities, because of the intermittent closing and opening of schools,’ said SADTU in a statement.
The Congress of South African Students (COSAS) supports SADTU’s call to push back the matric exams to later in November.
COSAS also said it wanted the contents of this year’s matric exams to be trimmed by as much as 50%.
However, King Cetshwayo Director of Education, David Chonco, said at this stage examinations are still set to take place as initially planned.
He told the ZO that all local schools were on track and currently doing revision.
‘Overall, we have around 90 000 pupils writing matric exams this year, of whom about 50 000 are part-time students.
‘So far, our schools have completed the curriculum and we still have October left for revision purposes.’
Chonco said that the matric attendance rate is currently at 90%.
‘The attendance is good, but we are still engaging with parents to establish why some students are still absent.
‘At this stage, we are confident that, academically, our pupils are well covered.’
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