Today, Kenneth Mbatha and thousands of other matriculants will sit for their mathematics final examination.

But, instead of studying like the rest of his peers, the Cosas regional secretary took part in the ANC Youth League "economic freedom" march from the Johannesburg CBD to Pretoria.

Mbatha said: "It is very important for us to take part in the march. This is an economic revolution."

There were claims that pupils were forced out of schools in Soweto, Alexandra, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg city centre.

Education spokesman Charles Phahlane said schooling at all five high schools in Alexandra was disrupted at around 10am.

Matric exams, however, were not affected. Pupils wrote engineering graphics and design in the morning and agricultural management practices at 2pm.

Phahlane said schools allowed pupils in lower grades to go home.

Mbatha, a Star Schools pupil in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, said he was registered to write four subjects: English, geography, life skills and maths literacy.

"I do not think that I will pass geography. I will try with life skills and maths. I am not sure whether I will get to Pretoria or only get up to Sandton. What matters is that I am here and I am part of the march," he said.

"When I get home, I will not prepare for the exam, I will see it in the exam room tomorrow (today)."

Meanwhile, the DA is "appealing to the education department and the ANCYL to respect the right of learners to attend school without political disruptions".