GEORGE NEWS - Hoërskool Outeniqua principal Christo Vorster has appealed directly to Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube to urgently revise the 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam timetable, warning that as it stands, some learners could be forced to write examinations for up to eight hours in a single day.
The request has been backed by the George mayor's office, which has formally supported the concerns raised about the structure and intensity of the current timetable.
Vorster argues that the current schedule places excessive strain on learners and does not create "optimal conditions" for performance in key subjects.
"Schools such as La Rochelle, Paarl Gymnasium and Paarl Girls' High have also raised objections on several platforms, including through Fedsas [Federation of Associations of Governing Bodies of South African Schools] and the unions," said Vorster.
In a detailed letter dated 15 April, sent from the George mayor's office, Vorster warns that the timetable groups together demanding subjects such as mathematics, physical sciences, accounting and engineering graphics and design (EGD) in a way that leaves learners with "virtually no meaningful recovery time" between examinations.
One of the most serious concerns raised relates to learners with concessions. Vorster highlighted that the extended writing time could result in exceptionally long exam days.
"A learner who is blind receives an additional 30 minutes per hour," he said. "A blind learner taking Afrikaans and history could therefore be required to write Afrikaans from 09:00 to 13:30 and history from 14:00 to 18:30 on the same day. This is an extremely long and exhausting examination day and does not seem reasonable."
Vorster warns that learners are effectively placed under unnecessary pressure at the start of the examination period, and says that the structure of the timetable risks undermining the performance of learners in subjects critical for careers in engineering, science and accounting.
He also raised concerns about the broader school calendar, noting that the 2026 exam period starts earlier than it did in 2025 and overlaps with key school events such as matric farewells and prize-giving ceremonies.
He questions the use of several non-exam days within the timetable, arguing that better distribution could reduce subject clashes and workload intensity.
George Municipality confirmed it has received acknowledgement of the letter from the minister's office, although no substantive response has yet been received.
Attempts by George Herald to obtain comment from the minister's office were unsuccessful. An automated response indicated that the mailbox was full.
The South African Teachers' Union (SAOU) has confirmed that it had submitted input during the consultation phase, although it says engagement time frames were limited.
"On 8 December, the draft timetable was released, and schools had a short window over the holiday period to respond," said Sas du Plessis, chairperson of SAOU in the Western Cape and the union's national deputy president. "We did provide input, but there are many competing considerations, and while unions can make recommendations, implementation remains the department's decision."
Du Plessis added that some adjustments were made following submissions, particularly relating to practical subjects and foreign languages, but said not all concerns can be accommodated due to the complexity of national scheduling.
Meanwhile, several school principals across the region have declined to comment publicly, some indicating that the issue was considered too sensitive for media discussion. Comment from Fedsas is being awaited.
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