UMALUSI DISAPPOINTED BY PAPER LEAKS

 By: Surprise Golela

The 2020 matric examinations were marred by the leaking of the Mathematics and Physical Sciences question papers. This prompted the Department of Basic Education to order a rewrite of both exams, however the decision was then reversed after Afriforum and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) approached the courts.

Umalusi’s CEO Dr Mafu Rakometsi said this was disappointing.

“We appeal to all stakeholders involved in the examination process to refrain from engaging in such unscrupulous acts of dishonesty. Umalusi takes a dim view of paper leakages as they have the potential to compromise the integrity and credibility of the entire examination. It is also worth noting that there are serious consequences for those who are found guilty of such criminal activities, regardless of whether they are learners or officials,” Rakometsi said.

He then cited regulations which would allow Umalusi to nullify the certificates of candidates who are found guilty of leaking the two papers even after receiving their results were released.

“According to section 21 of the General and Further Education Quality Assurance Act of 2001, as amended, ‘the council may refuse to issue a certificate if a substantial irregularity has occurred in relation to an external assessment and the council may cancel a certificate that has been issued to a learner if on investigation the council found that the learner has not met the requirements for the qualification’.

A man working for a company contracted to print examination papers was arrested in December and appeared in court on 27 January 2021.