Zimbabwean Grade 12 pupils brought back to SA to write matric exams

Grade 12 pupils from Zimbabwe, who were compelled to leave South Africa following the June 30 deadline for immigrants to depart, are being returned to the country this week to prepare and sit their final matric examinations. The Zimbabwe Exemption Permit Coordinating Committee (ZEPCC) Academy is spearheading this effort, urging affected pupils to return to South Africa before the October National Senior Certificate examinations.

With the exams just weeks away, the pupils have a limited window to return, secure accommodation, and resume their preparations. The situation has also sparked concerns regarding pupils who may have been barred from registering, deregistered, or unable to complete other examination requirements due to their displacement. This issue arose two months after The Citizen reported that thousands of Zimbabwean pupils were facing an education crisis, as families impacted by deportations and anti-immigration tensions were forced to leave South Africa.

The ZEPCC Academy has issued an urgent call to Grade 12 pupils residing outside South Africa and those who failed to register, deregistered, missed the June rewrite exams, or are experiencing intimidation and bullying at schools to reach out to them. They will be accommodated at a boarding facility in Johannesburg for their exam preparations.

However, there is no information on the number of pupils that will be accommodated, who will bear the cost of the initiative, including meals and other necessities, how many are expected to travel from Zimbabwe, or how many are already in the country. At least 35,000 children reportedly returned to Zimbabwe with their parents between May and September.