Learners from Zimbabwe to Return to SA to Complete Matric 2026 Finals
Reading Time: 2 minutesEducation activist welcomes grade 12 learners back to SA to write matric finals. Read his opinion.
With Great Humility, We Welcome the Return of Zimbabwean Learners to Complete Their Matric Examinations
Education activist Hendrick Makaneta has welcomed with humility and a deep sense of responsibility the arrangements to bring Zimbabwean Grade 12 learners back to South Africa to write their National Senior Certificate examinations.
This is an important and humane development.
For these young people, matric is not merely an examination. It represents years of sacrifice, classroom attendance, family investment, personal ambition and the hope of building a better future. Ensuring that they are able to complete this critical chapter of their education is a matter that deserves our collective support.
Learners to return and access exams
As education activists, we believe that no child should be left behind because of circumstances beyond their control. Immigration and documentation matters are important and must be addressed through lawful and orderly processes. However, such processes should never lose sight of the human beings at their centre, particularly children and young people whose education and future are at stake.
We therefore commend the efforts that have made it possible for these learners to return and access their examinations. We also encourage all relevant authorities, schools, examination officials and other stakeholders to continue working together to ensure that the arrangements are practical and sensitive to the needs of the affected learners.
Our welcome must also be accompanied by a call for continued support. Returning to South Africa is only one part of the journey. Learners may require assistance with examination logistics, study preparation, transport, accommodation and other practical challenges. We urge stakeholders to ensure that no learner is disadvantaged because of avoidable administrative difficulties.
South Africa has a constitutional commitment to education and to the protection of children’s rights. Our response to vulnerable learners should reflect the values of dignity, equality, compassion and the best interests of the child. These principles should guide us even when broader policy questions are difficult and contested.
We must also recognise the contribution of civil society organizations like Siyafana and officials who continue to work to keep learners connected to education during challenging circumstances. Their efforts have shown us that education is not sustained by policy alone, but by people who are willing to act with care and responsibility.
We welcome this development not as a favour to these learners, but as a necessary step towards protecting their educational journey and their future. We hope this will send a message that the welfare and dignity of the child must remain at the centre.
We wish all affected learners strength and success as they prepare for their examinations. Their determination deserves our respect and support.
Issued by:
Hendrick Makaneta
Education Activist
Foundation for Education and Social Justice Africa (FESJA)
