SADTU urges communities not to disrupt Grade 12 exams which start on Tuesday
SADTU has called on South African communities to ensure a disruption-free environment for the upcoming Grade 12 final examinations.
Image: File: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has called on communities to ensure there are no disruptions to the Grade 12 final examinations which start on Tuesday.
In a statement, SADTU wished all the candidates who will be sitting for the 2025 National Senior Examinations (NSC) the best of luck.
The union said the importance of these examinations cannot be overstated as they mark the culmination of twelve to thirteen years of schooling and serve as a gateway to tertiary education, it said.
The union added that the NSC examinations also play a crucial role in benchmarking the quality of South Africa’s education system.
The journey of the Class of 2025 has not been easy; their learning was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 during their Grade 7 and 8 years.
“We commend both learners and teachers for their resilience, hard work, and determination in overcoming these challenges and making it to this crucial stage. SADTU expects this examination period to proceed without disturbances.
“We call on all stakeholders in education – parents, communities, transport providers, and government – to offer their utmost support to learners during this critical time. We further urge everyone to uphold the principles of SADTU’s “I Am a School Fan” campaign by protecting schools from thuggery, violence, and vandalism.
“We appeal to communities to ensure that roads leading to schools are not blockaded during community protests and that school transport services operate smoothly so that learners can arrive safely and on time.
Addressing the learners, the union urged them to remain disciplined and avoid any conduct that could jeopardise their chances of obtaining the all-important National Senior Certificate.
“Believe in your abilities, stay focused, and finish strong. To our teachers, we call on you to continue displaying professionalism and integrity as you invigilate and mark these examinations.
“We encourage families to provide learners with the necessary emotional and physical support throughout the examination period. Finally, we urge provincial departments of education and schools to strengthen security measures to prevent any examination paper leaks, as such incidents compromise the integrity and credibility of the entire examination process,” the union concluded.