By: Natasha Archary
The Department of Basic Education has announced that the matric exams will start earlier to accommodate the local government elections.
In a statement released this Wednesday the department said the decision was made to allow students who are eligible to vote to do so.
[MEDIA STATEMENT] Matric exam timetable amended to accommodate local government elections @HubertMweli @ReginahMhaule @ElijahMhlanga pic.twitter.com/G8Ki8Mx3PS
— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) September 15, 2021
Matriculants will begin their National Senior Certificate exams on 27 October, not on 1 November which is the day South African head to the polls.
“The papers, English (home language, first additional language and second additional language) paper 1, Business Studies paper 1, and the non-official languages paper 1, scheduled originally for 1 and 2 November will now be written on 27 and 28 October respectively.”
Elijah Mhlanga, department spokesperson said the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) held a special meeting where the decision was made earlier this morning that matric exams will start earlier.
“The CEM meeting took place following consultations with key stakeholders in the basic education sector. The changes were necessitated by the local government elections which will take place on November 1. Pupils eligible to vote will be able to cast their ballots.”
The initial timetable for the matric final year exams were approved by the CEM in May this year but after the election date was announced by minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on 1 November, amendments were made.
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