WESTERN CAPE NEWS - Matric learners have to realise that no social event is worth missing their final exams for.
In a press release on Monday, Western Cape Minister of Education Debbie Schäfer warned learners of the long-term repercussions they could face if they ignore the Covid-19 safety protocols every one of us is supposed to follow.
The message comes in the light of a recent cluster outbreak of Covid-19 related to a bar in the Southern Suburbs.
Schäfer said that according to exam protocol, a learner who tests positive for Covid-19 will not be able to write exams while they are recovering from their illness. Such a learner will have to re-write next year in May. The same goes for learners who have to quarantine because they had direct contact with a confirmed case - they will not be able to write exams while in quarantine. If they do not write exams, they might not be able to head to university, college or into employment next year.
Only a few days
Monday marked ten days until the main matric exams begin on Thursday 5 November. "Ten days is also the minimum amount of time that someone who has been in close contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case needs to quarantine. So it is extremely important that our learners are following the preventative measures right now."
According to Schäfer, the problem arises after school hours, when learners who know better are putting themselves at risk. "It is all very well for the WCED to require that schools implement safety protocols at school and during exam sittings, but if learners do not follow these after school, they are putting themselves at unnecessary risk." She said it is up to learners and their parents to take responsibility for what they do after school.
"We understand that learners want to have fun, and we also want to get our economy back on track - but there is a way to do this responsibly so we can all stay safe while moving forward."
She urged parents to have serious conversations with their children about the importance of practising the Covid-19 prevention measures - physical distancing, washing your hands and wearing masks - to keep themselves and others safe, and to help secure their future.
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