Matric's begin final exams following tumultuous academic year
The stage is set for over 1 million candidates, as matrics enter the final stretch of their high school careers.
The National Senior Certificate exams kick off with English Paper One.
Major adjustments have been made this year, in line with Covid-19 regulations. Social distancing and provision for those who present symptoms - have been taken into consideration.
Last year the Free State led the country with the highest pass rate of 88,4% followed by Gauteng with a matric pass rate of 87,2% while KZN came in fifth with an 81.3% pass rate.
This figure is the benchmark which the Basic Education Department is not willing to compromise on saying it intends to surpass it with the class of 2020 - COVID-19 or not.
It says it's placed full confidence in the supplementary support measures that it's put in place which has included distance learning, broadcast learning material and study camps among others.
One might argue this is additional pressure for educators and pupils as last year there was no COVID-19.
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Also, the department may have put additional pressure on itself when one considers each year the matric pass rate has steadily increased.
Today, Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu will be in the Umgungundlovu District to monitor the start of final exams in KZN where some 129 000 matriculants will be sitting to write Paper 1 English.
The Department of Basic Education says learners who test positive for Covid-19 won't be allowed to enter designated exam centres. Neither will those whose temperatures are higher than 38-degrees-Celcius.
They will still be allowed to write the exams, but at a different venue and under secure conditions.
Pupils and teachers have had to put in extra work this year after the lockdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their plans.
Newswatch has spoken to educators at a few schools in Durban on how they've helped to prepare Grade 12s under these trying circumstances.
Naren Brjlala is the Deputy Principal at Apollo Secondary School in Chatsworth.
He says despite the virus disruptions - they are anticipating a 95% pass rate.
"We have been having a lot of weekend classes so our learners have been attending a six-day week from to July right up to the period of trials. Our grade 12s have been with us, we have also had lessons for learners, just prior to them writing trials by providing revision classes for them."
Wentworth Secondary Schools' Principal says they turned to technology to continue with Grade 12 lessons and to maintain learner-teacher contact.
Laurel Cooks says it helped a great deal. "One of the tools we use was the cellphone, whereby we use recordings of teachings and lessons. We used WhatsApp chats, downloading old papers and sending it to learners."
"80% of it was successful, although data was an issue but once the learners understood that my teacher is doing this and sacrificing, I need this work. We also sent a message out to the parents to come on board. It's been a challenge but we are there," she said.
