Exams start in protest-hit Malamulele

"We are very happy that our learners are busy with exams despite being distracted by a week-long strike in the area," said department spokesman Pat Kgomo.

   

Almost 20,000 residents protested from last Tuesday after a demand for their own municipality was not acceded to by the demarcation board.

   

Protesters burnt down a government building and shops and schools were closed. The protests were suspended on Friday.

   

Kgomo commended protest leaders for suspending the strike at the right time -- two days before end of year exams began.

   

"We wish to ask the community that whatever conflicts they have they should not disrupt the future of our province," he said.

   

"If they disturb the learners they will also do the same when they grow up and our future will be destroyed."

   

The week-long closure of schools was a great loss for pupils, especially those in Grade 12 who would start their final exams next week.

   

Plans to catch up on lost time include running special lessons on three SABC radio stations in the province.

   

The stations had agreed to cut an hour of entertainment and replace it with an hour of school work on a certain subject daily. 

   

Critical parts of every subject would be discussed to make sure pupils were learning every day and ready for exams.

   

-Sapa