DBE postpones June matric rewrite examinations

The Department of Basic Education has postponed the May/June Amended Senior Certificate (old matric) and National Senior Certificate Examination. 

This is the matric examination which was to be written by more than 350 000 part-time candidates who include those who did not meet the pass requirements in the 2019 final exams as well as those who sought to rewrite to improve their marks.

The Director-General of the department, Mathanzima Mweli has written a letter to the Heads of the Provincial Education Departments conforming the changes to the plan for the examinations.

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“The advent of the Covid-19 virus has led to the early closure of schools during the first term and the declaration of a 21-day lockdown by the President, commencing from March 26 and concluding on April 16. The lockdown has since been extended until Thursday, April 30. This has resulted in a disruption to schooling hence the writing of May/June 2020 examinations has to be re-scheduled,” said Mweli.

The May/June examination was scheduled to start on Monday, May 4 and conclude on Friday, June 26. 

“At the HEDCOM meeting of April 10, it was agreed that the May/June examination should be merged with the November examination”, he said.

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The details regarding the merged June and November examination will be communicated in due course. Candidates will be informed regarding registration, examination centers and time-tables.

The department urges all candidates to continue their preparations. Learning and revision material has been made available on the Department website. 

The Second Chance Matric Support Programme link on the website is still available to assist those who had been studying independently as part-time candidates.