Basic Education Committee concerned about effects of load shedding on matric exams
9 November 2021
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education today expressed grave concern regarding the lack of electricity supply and load shedding during the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Grade 12 examinations, which are currently under way.
It is not only the actual exams that are affected, said committee Chairperson Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba. “It also impacts on the learners’ preparations for the examinations. It is particularly concerning with the National Senior Certificate examinations.”
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) informed the committee today that the Director-General has already requested an urgent meeting with the Eskom CEO, which is expected to occur in the next few days. The committee was assured that it would be appraised of the outcome of the meeting in order for South Africans and learners to have some form of certainty.
The DBE today briefed the committee on exam readiness, reminding it of the challenges faced by the class of 2021. Rotational attendance in 2020 due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that this class has lost a lot of learning and teaching time. Consequently, the 2021 matriculants have had to make up the curriculum that was not completed last year. Furthermore, the class also started the year later, once again due to the pandemic.