President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the local government election date, which falls on a Wednesday, November 4, while the national senior certificate (NSC) exams are scheduled from October 20 to November 27. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has confirmed that the elections will not disrupt school activities, including final exams.
IEC Considerations
IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said that before deciding on a suitable date, the IEC looked at the activities taking place around that time. According to Bapela, the first week of November is important because the elections are only for one day, and this would allow learners to write their exams without disruptions.
The IEC also considered using schools as voting stations, as they provide enough space for balloting and are more accessible to communities. As stated on the Government of South Africa website, schools play a vital role in the country’s education system.
Impact on Learners
Basic education expert Professor Mary Metcalfe believes that learning and teaching will not be affected, as the election date is six weeks before the end of the school term. No NSC examinations are scheduled for November 4 or on the days preceding and following the elections.
Metcalfe added that schools can schedule their internal assessments for the remaining five weeks after the elections. The South African school calendar typically allows for some flexibility in this regard.
Here are some key points to note:
- The local government elections will take place on November 4.
- The NSC exams are scheduled from October 20 to November 27.
- Schools will be used as voting stations, but this will not disrupt exam schedules.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union’s KwaZulu-Natal secretary, Nomarashiya Caluza, said that prior arrangements would be in place to ensure that voting is a national programme that does not interfere with learning.
