Matrics
2020 remembered for fight to save academic year in SA
The spread of the virus saw the education sector divided on how to save the academic year during a pandemic.
The rewrites were scheduled for 15 and 17 December respectively.
In the past two weeks, there's been a significant rise in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country.
The event took place from the 27 November to last Friday, several other editions of the annual party have now either been cancelled or postponed.
Ballito Rage went ahead recently in spite of growing COVID-19 infection numbers.
Pupils will be housed at the facility which will be managed by education and health officials.
Last week, the Education and Health Departments agreed that pupils who test positive for the virus will be allowed to sit for their finals under specific conditions.
Minister Angie Motshekga was in Soweto on Thursday morning along with Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi to monitor the start of the matric final exams.
The Education Department's Barney Mthembu said they were taking all the necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus during this important period.
Last month, DBE said pupils showing COVID-19 symptoms like a persistent fever would not be allowed to write the final paper this year but would be given a second chance with supplementary exams next year.
More than 1 million matrics throughout the country will sit for the English Paper One on Thursday.
The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown have thrown the academic calendar into chaos with new regulations around how to conduct exams having to be drawn up.
Lesufi said the paper has already been set and it should remain the same.
Grade 12's returned to class on Monday they now have to knuckle down for their finals amid a disrupted school calendar.
The policy empowers districts and schools to prohibit certain progressed learners from writing final matric examinations in their grade 12 year.
In 2019, 54.6% of matrics passed maths compared to 54.6% in 2015. In physical science, 75.5% passed the subject in 2019 compared to 58.6% in 2015.
With the school exceeding the 80% pass rate for the 2019 matric class, top-performing pupils from the school say the results will pave the way for their futures.
Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande said young people needed to be aware of illegal colleges offering bogus qualifications.
Principal Thomzana Mrwetyana said that the increase in the pass rate was a joint effort between teachers and tutoring NGOs.