CALL FOR DBE TO REWORK THE GRADE 12 EXAMINATION TIMETABLE
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) notes with concern the clashes in the Grade 12 examination timetable. This clash if not attended will disadvantage learners as well as teachers who have to ensure the smooth running of examinations.
Also, SADTU believes everyone knows how important it is for the timetable to provide enough time in between papers for learners to prepare themselves.
The current timetable shows that on the 4th of November 2025, 3 papers are set to be written, these are: Isizulu Home Language/ Isizulu First Additional Language Paper 1/ Accounting Paper 2 and Maritime Economics.
Our members, who are teachers and school principals, have informed us that some schools have learners who are writing all three subjects.
When SADTU received this information, it raised the matter with the provincial department of education whose response was that they had written to DBE asking for intervention.
It is worth mentioning that DBE responded in a manner that signals lack of understanding of the impact that these clashes may have on our learners.
In attending to the issue, the DBE instructed the province to reschedule times for these papers as follows:
SUBJECT PAPER ORIGINAL TIME PAPER RESCHEDULED TIME
Isizulu HL/Isizulu FAL 1 9h00-11h00 8h00-10h00
Accounting 2 14h00-16h00 11h00-13h00
Maritime Economics 1 14h00-17h00 14h00-17h00
In addition to this tight timetable, the DBE orders teachers to ensure that they quarantine learners from conclusion of an examination until commencement of the next examination on the same day.
It is clear from these DBE orders that the Department has forgotten that some learners/ candidates qualify for concessions, which is 15 minutes per hour (a total of 30 minutes per 2hrs paper).
SADTU rejects this deliberate inconvenience to our Grade 12 learners which borders on compromising learner performance and their future. SADTU in KZN is currently engaged with COSAS to collectively reject this.
SADTU calls on the DBE to reconsider its decision and review the calendar. SADTU’s view is that one of the afternoon papers (Accounting and Maritime Economics) must be moved to another date towards the end of examinations.
These recommendations are made to ensure that DBE avoids irregularities that may occur as a result of these orders.
Issued by KZN SADTU Provincial Secretariat