DBE relaxes criteria for matric marker recruits

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) resolves to relax the selection criteria for new matric exam markers due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Marking was scheduled to take place between January 4 and 22, 2021, and those eligible were Grade 12 teachers with two years of experience in the subject or language they applied to mark.

According to the DBE’s Director-General Hubert Mathanzima Mweli, provincial education departments were informed that they can deviate from the standard selection criteria because markers older than 60 and those with comorbidities may not be available.

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Mweli told The Star newspaper that the pandemic and risk-adjusted strategies will impact on the availability of markers across all provinces, and given the risks associated with large gatherings and the large number of educators that are over the age of 60 and those with comorbidities,” Mweli said.

He added that Grade 11 teachers will be appointed for subject marking, provided they met some requirements.

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“Teachers currently teaching Grade 11, provided that they have taught the subject in Grade 12 for a minimum of two years in the last five years, can be considered for marking,” he said.

Matric learners, all over the country, are preparing for their combined mid-year and final exams, which are scheduled to start on November 5 until December 15, 2020, with results set to release on February, 23 2021.

The class of 2020 were not able to write their June mid-year exams due to the lockdown, and more than 1.1 million pupils are expected to sit for the combined exams.