The North West Provincial Government, however, believes this year has been stable and that the class of 2022 will do well in their last exams.

Premier Bushy Maape’s various intervention measures were put in place by the provincial Education Department to make sure that learners do not neglect their work.

“The Department of Education initiated learning camps whose primary objective was to cover the curriculum and do revision.” Another intervention was through Dial-A-Tutor Programme where learners dial experts on a toll-free number for assistance in various subjects. The department also tapped into the social media space as it is popular among the youth and in this instance learners. Maape is of a view that these strategies have been of great assistance in seeing to it that learners prepare thoroughly for the 2022 final year examinations.

In a media statement, he adds that the class of 2021 set the bar quite high, and that the province cannot afford to drop the ball. He states that the government is constitutionally obligated to create a conducive environment for teachers and learners and ensure that resources are availed towards the education of the marginalised. “It is only through education that we can be able to address the scourge of poverty and unemployment besieging our communities,” emphasised Maape.

Over 48 000 learners will sit for this year’s Grade 12 examinations in the province and different measures have been put in place to ensure that examinations run smoothly.

However, the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the province has appealed for support and no disruption. SANCO Provincial Chairperson, Paul Sebegoe, appealed to communities to allow learners the opportunity to write their final exams in a peaceful and conducive environment. “The sacrifices and extra effort they have had as part of preparing for the exams throughout the year under very trying Post Covid-19 recovery conditions, must be jealously guarded so that they achieve their objective to pursue their dreams," he said. Despite measures put in place to mitigate the impact of Eskom load-shedding on the exams, Sanco expressed concern about it, as it characterised as a disruptive and very suspect programme, he said.

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