KwaZulu-Natal matriculants are hoping for an end to the ongoing wage dispute as the government and public service workers unions returned to the negotiating table to find ways of ending the strike.
The class of 2010 has been dealt a heavy blow by disruptions to learning and the postponement of trial examinations.
Matriculant Thembelihle Duma said: "It is difficult not knowing whether we will write the final examinations through our own preparation or not. As learners we hope the government will realise the importance of education because we need teachers' contributions."
She said because of the strike they had formed study groups where they get tutored by relatives who were in institutions of higher learning.
Duma said the postponement of the trial exams affected most pupils but stated that, with the date set they were ready to deliver in exam rooms.
Provincial education spokesperson Mbali Thusi said September 8 2010 was the date set for the trial examination.
"We have more than 600 centres set up across the province to support learners. We also have officials who have been monitoring the situation and reporting back to us."
Thusi said there were less than 60 days left before the start of final examinations and the centres were aimed at helping trailing matriculants cover the syllabus.
Umlazi township Ogwini High School principal Simon Dlamini said though most learners from his school had chosen to stay at home, matriculants were meeting in study groups to prepare for the exams.
He said because of extra classes, which they began in January, they were well ahead of the syllabus and only had revision to cover.
"It would be against international standards to postpone the final examinations but the impact of the strike will be felt in this year's pass rate."
Hope for end to strike
KwaZulu-Natal matriculants are hoping for an end to the ongoing wage dispute as the government and public service workers unions returned to the negotiating table to find ways of ending the strike.
The class of 2010 has been dealt a heavy blow by disruptions to learning and the postponement of trial examinations.
Matriculant Thembelihle Duma said: "It is difficult not knowing whether we will write the final examinations through our own preparation or not. As learners we hope the government will realise the importance of education because we need teachers' contributions."
She said because of the strike they had formed study groups where they get tutored by relatives who were in institutions of higher learning.
Duma said the postponement of the trial exams affected most pupils but stated that, with the date set they were ready to deliver in exam rooms.
Provincial education spokesperson Mbali Thusi said September 8 2010 was the date set for the trial examination.
"We have more than 600 centres set up across the province to support learners. We also have officials who have been monitoring the situation and reporting back to us."
Thusi said there were less than 60 days left before the start of final examinations and the centres were aimed at helping trailing matriculants cover the syllabus.
Umlazi township Ogwini High School principal Simon Dlamini said though most learners from his school had chosen to stay at home, matriculants were meeting in study groups to prepare for the exams.
He said because of extra classes, which they began in January, they were well ahead of the syllabus and only had revision to cover.
"It would be against international standards to postpone the final examinations but the impact of the strike will be felt in this year's pass rate."
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