MATRICULANTS around the country are expected to start writing their preliminary examinations today.
The exams are finally starting after they were postponed because of the public sector strike that ended last week.
Today prelims start in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and Eastern Cape. North West and Free State started theirs on Thursday.
In Western Cape the exams started during the strike, while pupils in Northern Cape will not sit for the preliminary exams.
Northern Cape education spokesperson Olehile Stander said the prelims were supposed to start today but as the strike has been suspended they decided to scrap them completely.
Stander said the province's recovery strategy would make up for disruptions to teaching during the strike. Schools would not close for the spring break, offering optional classes and a 10-day spring camp for 3000 pupils from poorly performing schools.
Speaking to Sowetan last week, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said: "What we have said to the province is that if they feel that they cannot write the exams, it's fine. They do not have to write all the subjects. They can still make their average with four out of the six subjects."
Preliminary examinations account for 25percent of the final marks.
Gauteng education MEC Barbara Creecy said: "We realise that there is not enough time anymore. We have lost four weeks of teaching and we are left with less than six weeks before the final matric exams. "
In Gauteng pupils will write three-hour exams in the morning and two-hour papers from midday. They will attend catch-up classes for the next day's exam in the afternoon. Creecy said study camps would be set up to focus on completing the curriculum and revision from September 23.
In Limpopo 105000 pupils from 1400 schools will sit for the exams from today.
Spokesperson Pat Kgomo confirmed the readiness of the department and pupils yesterday.
"We are ready for the examinations and we hope to perform well," Kgomo said.
Exams kick off
MATRICULANTS around the country are expected to start writing their preliminary examinations today.
The exams are finally starting after they were postponed because of the public sector strike that ended last week.
Today prelims start in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and Eastern Cape. North West and Free State started theirs on Thursday.
In Western Cape the exams started during the strike, while pupils in Northern Cape will not sit for the preliminary exams.
Northern Cape education spokesperson Olehile Stander said the prelims were supposed to start today but as the strike has been suspended they decided to scrap them completely.
Stander said the province's recovery strategy would make up for disruptions to teaching during the strike. Schools would not close for the spring break, offering optional classes and a 10-day spring camp for 3000 pupils from poorly performing schools.
Speaking to Sowetan last week, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said: "What we have said to the province is that if they feel that they cannot write the exams, it's fine. They do not have to write all the subjects. They can still make their average with four out of the six subjects."
Preliminary examinations account for 25percent of the final marks.
Gauteng education MEC Barbara Creecy said: "We realise that there is not enough time anymore. We have lost four weeks of teaching and we are left with less than six weeks before the final matric exams. "
In Gauteng pupils will write three-hour exams in the morning and two-hour papers from midday. They will attend catch-up classes for the next day's exam in the afternoon. Creecy said study camps would be set up to focus on completing the curriculum and revision from September 23.
In Limpopo 105000 pupils from 1400 schools will sit for the exams from today.
Spokesperson Pat Kgomo confirmed the readiness of the department and pupils yesterday.
"We are ready for the examinations and we hope to perform well," Kgomo said.