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- The matric class of 2022 has started with the final exams.
- Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga visited a high school in Mamelodi to monitor the start of the exams.
- They offered words of encouragement to the students.
"You do to that [exam] paper what Kaizer Chiefs did to Pirates."
There were the words of encouragement from Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Monday when he wished Nellmapius Secondary School's 357 matric pupils well as their final exams kicked off.
He got pupils laughing and cheering with his reference to Kaizer Chiefs' 1-0 win over rivals Orlando Pirates over the weekend.
Lesufi and Basic Education Angie Motshekga were visiting the Mamelodi school to monitor the start of the National Senior Certificate exams in Tshwane.
More than 920 000 pupils nationally are writing English Paper One on Monday.
Lesufi congratulated them for making it this far and pointed out that many pupils don't make it to their final year of high school.
He added that the exams would determine their future.
Motshekga advised pupils to work hard, make sacrifices and stay motivated.
Challenges
In a statement on Sunday, the South Africa Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) pointed out the challenges the Class of 2022 had to endure.
The union pointed out that the Class of 2022 was in Grade 10 in 2020 when they experienced school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The schools were closed in March and reopened only in July on a rotational basis, which continued well into 2021.
Sadtu said:
"Not all schools could afford alternative energy sources to ensure effective learning and teaching in the classroom. Learners could not properly prepare for schooling in their homes due to load shedding."
The minister agreed that there were challenges but said they could be worked around.
