Matric exams are set to begin in November.
This was announced on Sunday by, Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga.
She updated the nation on the phased return of pupils to school including how they will be assessed.
Motshekga said, “Because of loss of time and days, we have been really looking around assessments to say how are we going to assess the internal grades with [the] continuous loss of time”
The minister said the Department has agreed to move the National Senior Certificate exams from the usual starting date in October to 9 November, aiming to finish around 22 December.
Motshekga said marking of the matric exam 2020 papers will begin in January.
Back to school for Grades 6, 11 and some Grade Rs
She also confirmed that Grade 6 and 11 pupils, and some Grade Rs, would be returning to school on Monday.
Minister Motshekga said provinces that were not prepared for Grade Rs had until the end of the month to accept pupils.
She said the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) met last Thursday and considered a number of variables, which include the rising community infections across the country, and the risk in dealing with the returning grades to school.
Motshekga said, “This is what made CEM to consider staggering the returning grades, which were planned to return on [Monday] and 3 August. Firstly, CEM agreed that only Grades R, 6 and 11 will return to school tomorrow (Monday)”.
The minister said there would also be a reprieve for provinces not ready for little ones in Grade R.
“CEM also noted that provinces may be at different levels of readiness for the return of Grade R learners. Therefore, CEM agreed that those provinces that are not ready to receive Grade R on [Monday] must provide strategic and realisable plans for ensuring the reincorporation of Grade R learners to schools within, but not later than, the end of July,” said Motshekga.
She also said 2 740 teachers and 1 260 pupils have been infected since schools reopened. Motshekga said this represented just 0.01% of pupils and 1% of teachers in SA.
Read: Basic Education Department Postpones Matric Examinations