The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) wishes the Matric Class of 2020 all the best in their final examinations which begin on 5 November to 15 December 2020.

The Class of 2020, the largest with more than a million candidates, faces the toughest examination as they write in the midst of the COVID 19 in a year marred by disruptions due the pandemic and subsequent lockdown regulations. It has been said that they are going to write an examination that was set in 2018, which does not take into account the challenges learners encountered this year. However, despite all these challenges, they have shown resilience and are going to sit for these examinations.

SADTU commends the teachers as frontline workers who sacrificed their weekends, early morning and late afternoons to teach and prepare learners for this all important examination in order to compensate for the time lost due to COVID 19.  They have done this, spending their last cents to buy data, despite the fact that they have not received their salary increments which were due to them as far as April.

We urge the Department to do all to ensure that the examination centres comply with all the required safety regulations and for both the learners and teachers to observe the safety regulations by keeping social distancing, sanitizing and wearing masks.

We call on all matriculants to dedicate all of the remaining time focusing on the examinations and avoid any activities that will defocus and disrupt their preparation for this important examination. We urge our parents to support their children and allow them more time to study.

ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat

CONTACT:

General Secretary, Mugwena Maluleke; 082 783 2968

Deputy General Secretary, Nkosana Dolopi; 082 709 5651Media Officer, Nomusa Cembi; 082 719 5157