The Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced on Wednesday, September 15, that the 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations will start earlier than scheduled as it clashes with the municipal elections.
According to DBE, the class of 2021 was scheduled to write their English, Business Studies and Non-Official Language Paper 1 final exams at the start of November, however, they will now write it on October 27 and 28.
[MEDIA STATEMENT] Matric exam timetable amended to accommodate local government elections @HubertMweli @ReginahMhaule @ElijahMhlanga pic.twitter.com/G8Ki8Mx3PS
— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) September 15, 2021
Department spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, said in a statement on Wednesday that the decision was made after DBE consulted with stakeholders as well as teacher unions and school governing bodies, News24 reports.
The statement also mentioned that 207 exam question papers will be written over five weeks, and there are no open sessions, which is also one of the reasons the exams were moved up.
Meanwhile, South Africans will head to the polls on November 1 – the first time in the country’s history that an election day will take place on a Monday and not on a Wednesday as in previous years.
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Picture: Cape {town} etc gallery