SADTU wants matric exams delayed

SADTU wants matric exams delayed

Date Published: September 6, 2020

As the Department of Basic Education begins to move head-on into the final examination period, SADTU warns of serious miscalculation. 

According to SADTU, with 1.1million students expected to write finals, there will be issues in finding enough classroom space with COVID-19 regulations in place.

Who is SADTU?

The South African Democratic Teachers Union is one of RSA’s largest teachers unions. Founded by Magope Maphila in the 1990s, SADTU has over 254000 members. 

SADTU aims to remove all elements of discrimination in the teaching work-place as well as to strive towards a just and equal education system.

What does SADTU suggest?

SADTU believes that the commencement of the November examination period should be pushed to a later date. 

Instead of the November examination period to start on the 5th of November, SADTU suggests that it be pushed to the 26th of November. 

Why the push? 

SADTU believes this extra push will give students a better chance at tackling their final examinations. The Department of Education had already released the final matric exam timetable for 2020, find it here.

There won't be enough markers

Due to the combination of examinations, more markers will need to be recruited to get all the work marked by 2021. The markers usually hired by the Department of Education are aged 60 or upwards. Due to their age and the current coronavirus pandemic, their comorbidities mean they cannot act as markers for the 2020 finals.

Examination space

Experts have expressed concern that there will not be enough classroom space for the 1.1 million students expected to write final exams.  

SADTU expressed that since students from grades 1-11 will still be at school, the chances of enough examination spaces are slim. 

Some schools will be able to make use of halls and gymnasiums, yet many schools in South Africa are left without this luxury.

Away with standardised testing

SADTU encourages schools to opt for school-based teaching and educational plans rather than examinations. 

SATDU believes that this method of testing and learning is more focused on the interest of the students.

The new trimmed curriculum

SADTU has expressed serious concern surrounding the reduction of content in subjects. Students will be left without fully completing the content of their subjects and as a result, will struggle to progress. 

SADTU is also concerned about the educational gap this could cause. With some schools dropping subjects, a serious divide will be created between schools with resources and those without.

Author: Andrea Frisby