How the IEC plans to avoid exam disruptions during local elections
Proceedings
President Cyril Ramaphosa had on Thursday announced the election date, which would fall on a Wednesday.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has confirmed that the local government elections on November 4 will not disrupt school activities, including final exams.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the election date, which falls on a Wednesday, while the national senior certificate (NSC) exams are scheduled from October 20 to November 27.
Most schools, including those that will be used as voting stations, use holidays and weekends for extra classes to prepare pupils for the exams.
When asked about the possibility of elections disrupting exams, IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said that before deciding on a suitable date, the IEC looked at the activities taking place around that time.
“Around that time, it would be the beginning of exams, and not a lot of our learners would be writing exams. We wanted to hold the elections before the exams are in full swing, which is why the first week of November is important, and also because the elections are only for one day. We vote and then leave the space of young people so they can enjoy writing without any disruptions,” said Bapela.
She said schools were more suitable for elections than community halls and churches, as they provided enough space for balloting.
“The schools also give bigger access to communities, as every community has schools, whereas churches and halls can be far apart.”
She said in some communities, there are five to six schools in one space, which made it easy for voters to walk in.
She could not rule out that the IEC would use teachers to assist voters at voting stations.
“If it is possible, we need teachers if they are available. But you may be aware that when we recruit for an election, we publish in local communities. Once we finish the selection, we take a list of those people to the political parties in that area to confirm that we agree on the individuals assisting the voters,” Bapela said.
Basic education expert Professor Mary Metcalfe also did not believe that learning and teaching would be affected, as she said the election date would be six weeks before the end of the school term.
She said no NSC examinations were scheduled for November 4 or on November 3, which would be the day for setting up voting stations, or November 5, which would be for clearing up voting stations.
“Schools can schedule their internal assessment (Grades R to 11) for the remaining five weeks after the elections ,” said Metcalfe.
South African Democratic Teachers Union’s KwaZulu-Natal secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said prior arrangements would be in place since voting “is a national programme”.
“What we know is that this will be taken care of because even pupils, who are at the voting age, will need to vote. On that day, it will be a holiday for learners to also be able to vote,” said Caluza.
During an interview with Cathy Mohlahlana of the SAFM’s National Briefing on Friday morning, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa said there was still enough time for the Basic and Higher Education departments to plan.