The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has released yet another statement about the ongoing Matric exams, this time around the relaxed COVID-19 (coronavirus) rules which have been released recently.

The DBE, together with the Department of Health (DoH), made several changes to allow as many students as possible to sit for their exams.

Social distancing was reduced from two metres to one, students with high temperatures of 38°C are still allowed to write in isolation and those who test positive for COVID-19 are also now allowed to write (also in isolation). Before this latest set of rule changes students who tested positive for the coronavirus were deferred to the May/June 2021 exams. 

“Candidates are advised to be extra cautious during this period of the examination to minimise their risk of contracting the virus. They should refrain from attending any social gatherings and strictly observe the protocols relating to social distancing, wearing of the mask, and hand sanitizing. The Department also appeals to parents and communities to continue supporting the Class of 2020 throughout the examination period,” the statement from the DBE reads reads.

This exam season is the largest that South Africa has ever experienced with more than a million students included.

The 2020 Matric exam season started on 5th November. It continues today with the writing of several language papers, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Science. These exams will continue until 15th December with results planned to be released on 22nd January 2021.

Students, parents, educators and the public at large are waiting for January to see if the revised decisions from the DBE and DoH have any impact on the results of the exams and the COVID-19 infection rate.

On the latter cases of the disease continue to rise in South Africa. Today, 9th November, the country has experienced 1 372 new cases of the coronavirus and 20 new fatalities caused by it.