Johannesburg – The September school holidays will not be scrapped in view of the recent strike disruptions at schools, the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) said last week.

“Council decided that the September school holidays will proceed as scheduled,” it said in a statement.

With the matric exams starting on October 25, the council called on all South Africans to rally behind “the Class of 2010″.

“All provinces have put measures in place to support our grade 12s. These will include special tuition in grade 12 learning centres; spring schools during the September holidays; the provision of additional learning support materials; as well as learner camps in some provinces.”

Grade 12′s were encouraged to use these opportunities.

Preliminary exams would also proceed in all provinces as planned.

In provinces where it would not be possible to write the common trial examination, the examinations would be set and administered at school level.

These would provide an important practice run for all pupils ahead of the final exams.

The council also condemned the disruption of the trial examinations in some schools in the Free State, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal on Monday.

“Council urged all South Africans to support the Class of 2010 and to avoid any disruptions that will negatively affect the preparations of learners for the final examinations.”

Disruptions to education caused by a prolonged public servants’ strike raised concerns about the outcome of this year’s matric exams and whether pupils would have enough time to prepare.

Sapa