- President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday wished the matrics of 2020 good luck with their final exams.
- He said this year's exams would be written under unprecedented conditions, as the Covid-19 pandemic cut much of the school year short.
- Matrics begin the final exam on Thursday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday sent the matrics of 2020 good wishes, saying they had overcome "unprecedented conditions" amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Grade 12s will be sitting for their Senior Certificate examinations from Thursday. It had been a disruptive school year; schools were closed for months owing to coronavirus lockdown restrictions, with many pupils not having access to online learning or other resources.
Ramaphosa said for many the final exam was an exciting moment, but one that was also fraught with anxiety.
"This year's exam will be written under unprecedented conditions. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. The nationwide lockdown we had to impose in March to contain the spread of the coronavirus caused immense disruption to everyday life and cost valuable hours of learning and study," the president said.
To accommodate the disruptions, the June Senior Certificate exams were postponed and would now be written together with the National Senior Certificate. More than a million candidates would sit for the examinations starting on Thursday. This made this combined examination the largest public exam ever administered in South Africa, Ramaphosa said.
He congratulated the provincial and national departments of basic education for their "sterling preparation" to ensure things proceeded smoothly.
Endure mental strain of isolation
"The class of 2020 has had to endure conditions their predecessors never had to confront. They had to adapt in real time not just to finish the curriculum, but to catch up with the learning hours lost. Though some had access to online learning platforms and other resources, many had to struggle with access to learning material and teaching.
"They had to endure the mental strain of social isolation, and for many months were cut off from friends and their teachers. They were not able to participate in sporting, recreational and leisure activities that are so essential to a well-rounded life and that relieve the stresses of prolonged study," Ramaphosa said.
"Yet, despite having the odds stacked against them, our learners are determined to present for this exam that is the pinnacle of their schooling."
Ramaphosa said it had been equally difficult for teachers.
"Despite the risk posed by the virus and resource challenges inside our schools, the majority of our teachers heeded the call to return to school to salvage what was left of the academic year. They presented for work every day to support our matriculants. They put in the extra hours to get our learners over the finish line, making the most of the resources they had to ensure learning continued."
Business support
He added that many businesses played a supportive role, assisting with the provision of technology such as tablets to schools and assisting to resource school multimedia centres.
"Mobile network operators established e-school platforms during the lockdown carrying free learning content, including subject content for matriculants. University graduates set up tutoring platforms online, making much-needed supplementary learning support available for free. The SABC and other TV providers have carried catch-up lessons for matric learners through the Department of Basic Education's Woza Matrics Programme, enabling learners to prepare for the examinations."
The president said without the support of parents, families and communities, Grade 12s' path to the matric exam would have been considerably harder. "We thank them for their support. Despite all the challenges this year has brought, I call on the Class of 2020 to summon their great reserves of courage and strength in this, the final push. To the Class of 2020, I wish you the very best."
Overcoming difficulties
He added that the 2020 matrics had overcome difficulties that would "test the resolve of even the most experienced and hardened adults".
He said:
"When you enter the exam room in the days ahead, you will be carrying not just your own hopes for success and those of your families. You will also carry the hopes of us, the South African people. We are immensely proud of you and wish you the very best of luck," Ramaphosa said.
Pupils would write their first paper, English, on Thursday. The 2020 matric exams will wrap up on 15 November.
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