Pretoria – Candidates, whose results were nullified following an investigation involving group copying in the 2014 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination, have been given 21 days to appeal the nullification of their results.
Updating the media on the progress of the investigation on Thursday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the investigations have revealed that group copying took place in a number of the implicated examination centres.
She said 153 examination centres were implicated in the group copying. However, the investigation process was delayed as priority was given to address the irregularities that emerged in the 2014 NSC.
Minister Motshekga explained that in the case of the 153 centres, where subjects were audited and where candidates were cleared, their results would be released. In the case of the subjects that were audited and where evidence of copying has been confirmed, the results of the candidates will be nullified.
The total number of centres in the Eastern Cape, where results were nullified were seven and seven hearings have been rescheduled due to legal representation.
In KwaZulu-Natal, 11 examination centres’ results were nullified and 11 hearings were rescheduled as learners either did not participate in the initial hearing or sought legal representation.
“Written notifications will be provided to individual candidates informing them of the opportunity to appeal. Appeals submitted will be considered by a panel comprising the Department of Basic Education and Provincial Education Departments.
“On the basis of the appeal submissions, a decision will be made to invite the learners to the hearings. Learners that do not submit an appeal within the 21 day period will have their nullifications enforced,” Minister Motshekga explained.
In the majority of the examination centres where learners co-operated with the process, the Minister added that the results have been nullified but the affected learners will be permitted to write the examination this year during the October/November NSC sitting.
The Minister said the department has put measures in place to ensure that this group copying phenomenon does not occur in the 2015 examinations.
“The department has implemented a number of measures to improve the integrity of the administration of this examination and to curb irregularities in the 2015 sitting. This included stringent monitoring and invigilation and the establishment of designated centres where the examination was written.”
The department has also implemented various strategies to ensure that the irregularities of 2014 are completely eradicated.
This includes more robust and stringent monitoring programmes, especially for the provincial departments, where assisted copying was identified. It will also include national standardised training of all provincial personnel involved in invigilator training.
“Categorisation of centres based on their risk profile and the invigilation will be strengthened based on the risk profile of the examination centre.”
Meanwhile, Cabinet has approved the appointment of a new Director-General for Basic Education, Mathanzima Hubert Mweli. Mweli will take up his new role with immediate effect. – SAnews.gov.za
