In what has been described as a challenging and “abnormal” academic year, the class of 2020 will forge ahead with one of the most important gateway examinations in their lives – the National Senior Certificate and Senior Certificate examinations.
Over one million learners, the largest number of candidates recorded, will sit for their exams from today (November 5) until December 15. The Department of Basic Education has said that despite the abnormal context, the class of 2020 will be subjected to the same high quality of examination that previous cohorts were subjected to, as the department has not made any changes to the exam papers, which were already set in 2019.
“The sector has had to double its efforts to ensure that the class of 2020, despite the disruptions of the academic year, are fully prepared for this examination,” said the department’s press release earlier this week.
The same confidence is mirrored at Estcourt Secondary School, where learners and educators were cramming in the final moments of studying and teaching earlier this week.
Grade 12 learners say: “Yes, we are ready!”
“We have been studying alone as well as via social media like WhatsApp groups. We are in constant communication with our teachers and classmates,” said Neliswa Khubisa.
Estcourt Secondary School educator Aresh Woodraj said that while it has been a “difficult year”, he commended the dedication from the learners who attended class during the lockdown as well as on Saturdays.
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“Our Saturday classes had full attendance. We also have morning and afternoon teaching sessions for the Grade 12s. Other methods of teaching we’ve used are WhatsApp groups, Google Classroom and Liveboard,” explained Mr Woordraj.
He added that past year exam papers were compiled into booklets or sent out via WhatsApp groups as an added benefit for the learners.
When asked whether he was confident ahead of the exams, Mr Woodraj answered with a resounding ‘yes’.
Good luck to the class of 2020!
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