The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) wants to clarify the situation regarding preliminary examinations as follows:
Some schools completed writing their prelim exams last week. Schools worst affected by the strike will write this week and next week. Some began writing today, and others will begin tomorrow.
Confusion has arisen in some schools as a result of late communication regarding the shifting of the physics paper from today to sometime next week. We are presently working with our schools and districts to iron out the confusion.
We have also received reports that Cosas is disrupting some of the schools in Moletsane and Simunye in the Bekkersdal area. Officials are in meetings with these learners to clarify the importance of learners writing the prelim exams.
From the GDE perspective, these exams are important for two reasons:
Firstly they give learners an opportunity to experience the types of questions they will face in the matric examinations.
Secondly, they contribute to the school based assessment mark which makes up 25% of the matric mark. Catch-up classes for matrics in the province started from this past weekend. Learner attendance at these camps was over 80% in most cases. These classes will continue next weekend, and throughout the September holidays as well as the first three weeks of October. The programme focused on preparing learners for the prelim exams this week. Throughout this week, schools are encouraged on a daily basis to assist learners to be ready for the preliminary examination papers.
There is no truth to reports that the Gauteng MEC for Education is considering postponing or scrapping the preliminary exams.
The GDE urges all Gauteng learners to approach these exams in a focused and dedicated manner. We will continue to do everything in our power to walk with these learners over the next 43 days to make sure that they are as well prepared as they can be to face the final matric examinations.
For more information contact:
Gauteng Department of Education's Head of Communication, Charles Phahlane
Tel: 011 355 1530
Cell: 071 860 4496
Source: SAPA
