Cape Town - The failure by schools and circuits in some provinces to submit learners' year marks, irregularities and a possible computer system failure could have caused the delay in the release of all of the matric results on 30 December 2008.
Department of Education's Further Education and Training Branch Deputy Director General, Penny Vinjevold, who was briefing Parliament's Select Committee on Education and Recreation on Wednesday, has said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the delay.
She said the department and Umalusi, which is the council for quality assurance in education, were investigating the extent of the problem, including irregularities and an alleged failure of the new computer system.
The Integrated Examinations Computerised System, developed by the department to capture learner marks and results, was used for the first time during the 2008 Grade 12 examinations.
When Minister of Education Naledi Pandor announced the 62.5 percent pass rate and matric results in December, she said she was only reporting on the results of the 533 561 candidates.
A total of 56 810 candidates had incomplete results due to outstanding internal marks, oral or practical requirements or pending irregularity investigations.
The investigating team is expected to inform Minister Pandor about their findings by the end of this month, Ms Vinjevold said.
Responding to speculation that the mathematics paper was not up to the required level, Ms Vinjevold said a panel had been appointed this week to look at the paper and give their opinion of it.
Next week, the committee will visit Mpumalanga, the only province with outstanding results.
On Tuesday, the Mpumalanga Education department assured all schools, parents and learners who were still waiting for their results that they would be released on 26 January 2009.
Currently, there are only 2 589 learners with results still pending and both national and the Mpumalanga Provincial Departments are working tirelessly around the clock to finalise the process.
The department said as many as 700 pupils who sat for the 2008 matric exams may have cheated.
