Thanks to the delay caused by the lockdown in 2020, the stress of online learning and leaked exams, last year’s matriculants will only know their fate on 22 February. That’s when results, which usually come out in early January, are expected to be released. The Department of Basic Education said marking should be completed by 22 January. That could be a challenge, though: the Sunday Times reported that some markers fear contracting Covid-19 at marking centers, where the script is passed between several people. Marking started in all provinces this week; already more than 74 markers were sent home in the Eastern Cape after contracting Covid-19, News24 reported on Tuesday. And 800 markers in Gauteng withdrew on Thursday, citing Covid-related concerns. They have all reportedly been replaced. As a precaution, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said there should be compulsory screening and mask compliance at the country’s 181 marking centers over an 18-day period, TimesLive reported. It’s just another in a long list of Covid-related obstacles our learners have faced this past year. We can’t wait for them to finally get their results. 

This brief was originally published in The Wrap here.

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