As Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga welcomed the teachers and learnes back to school for the start of the third term on Tuesday, she urged all the Grade 12 pupils to use the remaining days productively to apply themselves diligently in what is the final push towards the culmination of 12 years of schooling.

The Grade 12 pupils have only 80 days left before the start of the 2018 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

“These are the final moments as  you approach the end of your 12-year journey in the education system with the start of the NSC examinations on October 22. I am confident if you apply yourself to your studies every day, you will be able to make yourself and the education sector proud,” Motshekga said.

Motshekga said she hopes that both learners and educators are well rested after the winter break and are ready to push through towards the second half of the school year.  “The department has received provincial reports indicating their state of readiness ahead of the third academic term,” she said.