Pressure Builds as Gauteng Matrics Enter Final Stretch, with Protests Still a Threat

With final exams just weeks away, the Gauteng Department of Education says it’s pushing hard to make sure the class of 2025 is ready, even as community protests continue to derail some schools.

Camps, Catch-Up Sessions and “Just-in-Time” Support

Education MEC Matome Chiloane says the province has been rolling out a mix of interventions to keep pupils on track. These include:

• Secondary Learning Improvement Programme

• National study and revision camps

• Targeted support sessions in underperforming districts

• “Sit-camps” and last-minute prep through the department’s just-in-time programme

These sit-camps, currently underway at several schools, offer focused exam revision and are meant to close the gaps created by teaching time lost earlier in the year.

In many township and peri-urban schools, these camps have become a lifeline, especially for learners whose schools were closed due to protests, floods or service delivery disputes.

Protests Still Disrupting Schools

Despite the department’s confidence, Chiloane openly acknowledged that not everything is running smoothly.

“In some instances, we have had schools that were disrupted for about two weeks because of civil and environmental protests,” he said.

These disruptions vary:

• Some communities shut down schools to demand electricity or water services.

• Others stage road blockades that prevent learners and teachers from travelling.

• Environmental protests have also affected rural and informal settlement schools.

While the department insists the majority of schools are on track, those affected have had to rely heavily on camps and after-school revision programmes to make up lost teaching time.

Nearly 200,000 Candidates Writing in Gauteng

This year, more than 192,000 full-time and part-time candidates in the province are expected to sit for the National Senior Certificate exams. That number alone brings pressure and public attention to how the department is managing exam readiness.

The class of 2025 also lived through pandemic-era schooling disruptions in earlier grades, meaning some were already playing catch-up when the year began.

Public Reaction: Hope, Pressure and Concern

Parents and teachers on social media have praised the camps but also questioned whether the department is doing enough to protect learning time in protest hotspots.

Some communities have raised uncomfortable questions:

• Why are schools so easily caught in the crossfire of service delivery battles?

• Are these protests a warning about unresolved local frustrations?

• Should the province have emergency contingency plans for future disruptions?

Educators, meanwhile, say revision camps are useful, but not a permanent fix for chronic interruptions.

A Confident MEC, But Still on Alert

Chiloane maintains that the department’s year-long strategy has positioned the province well for the final push.

He says the department is “near ready” and believes the interventions will show in exam results when pupils start writing later in October.

But readiness on paper doesn’t always match the reality on the ground, especially in areas where matriculants have already missed up to two weeks of contact learning.

The Real Test Starts Soon

As Gauteng heads into its final preparation phase, officials are banking on camps, tutoring and extended hours to cushion the impact of lost time.

For thousands of learners, exam readiness now hinges on whether the remaining days stay protest-free and whether support initiatives can reach those who need them most.

If you’d like a sidebar or a follow-up angle, like teacher reactions, district breakdowns or past matric performance statistics, just let me know!

{Source: EWN}

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