
Cape Town - As thousands of matric pupils began writing the 2018 National Senior Certificate examinations this week, there was concern over how Metrorail's poor service, as well as the MyCiTi strike in Cape Town, would affect them getting to the exam venues on time.
According to exam rules, "candidates may be admitted into an examination room provided they arrive within one hour of the exam starting - however, a learner arriving within the one-hour period will still have to complete the exam by the same time as other candidates. ie. if there is a 3-hour exam and a candidate arrives 30 minutes late, then the candidate will have only 2 and half hours to complete the examination".
A candidate arriving later than one hour will not be allowed to write the examination at all and will have to make use of the supplementary examinations next year in June.
On Tuesday, Debbie Schäfer, Western Cape MEC of Education, and Donald Grant, MEC of Transport and Public Works, appealed to Metrorail and taxi associations to assist with transport for the NSC exams.
"With ongoing reports of Metrorail trains being delayed, cancelled or set alight, it is a concern that there is a possibility that some matric candidates will not reach their examination venues on time.