matric exam rewrite

Big changes might be on the cards for South African schools. Image: Unsplash

Limpopo Matric exams: Markers sent home over COVID outbreak

The COVID-19 4th wave is now causing chaos with the marking of Matric exams in Limpopo. A big group of markers have all had to be sent home.

matric exam rewrite

Big changes might be on the cards for South African schools. Image: Unsplash

COVID-19 is interfering with pretty much everything at the moment. Travel bans, the president and a senior minister having to isolate. And now even the teachers marking matric exams in Limpopo. With Christmas right around the corner, COVID is showing no signs of taking some time off for the festive season.

Limpopo Matric exams: markers sent packing

The Limpopo Department of Education told News24 that 23 matric exam markers from across the province had to be sent home. All of them tested positive for COVID-19.

“A total of 23 markers have been released from our centres across the province after showing symptoms and/or testing positive for Covid-19. Each marking centre has received its own batch of scripts and most centres are at 80 % toward completion. Northern Academy Secondary is at 95%, with completion anticipated anytime soon.

Limpopo Education Dept’s Tidimao Chuene told News24

Markers elected by the provincial education departments are currently marking matric final exams at close to 200 sites across the country.

From COVID to storms: The 2021 Matric saga

The marking process has also been hampered by natural elements. A storm caused damage at a marking centre in the Free State. More than 15 000 Business Studies paper 2 exams were in the process of being marked at the centre. At the time, the storm completely tore the roof off the building.

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After much scrambling from staff, just two scripts are still to be fully identified. All the rest were safely located and reconciled.

In conclusion, the quick-thinking here has certainly made Matric exams a lot less of a nightmare for those Free State pupils.