Motshekga sternly warns matriculants against exam violations

In light of the recent exam paper leaks, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has cautioned Grade 12 learners against committing transgressions during examinations.

It was recently learnt that Mathematics Paper 2 had been leaked in eight provinces, just hours before it was written. The minister said the consequences of offences committed related to examinations, were quite dire.

“As a learner you can be banned for up to three years from writing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam and if you are an employee in the system you could be jailed,” Motshekga said.

“We are very disappointed that a question paper has been leaked and some learners appear to have had access to it before it was written,”

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga

The minister held a media briefing on Wednesday, 18 November 2020, on the combined National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

The exams got underway on 5 November and will end on 15 December 2020.

Paper leak did not compromise exam

The department’s  Chief Director of National Assessment and Public Examinations Rufus Poliah said the leakage of the paper does not imply that the credibility of the entire examination has been compromised.

“An examination system of the magnitude and size of the South African examination system will experience challenges from time to time. ….Despite the challenges the capacity and the responsiveness of the system to detect these challenges and to respond with the requisite speed and rigor will determine the examination credibility,” Poliah said.

Poliah said there were mechanisms in place to deal with the examination as a whole.

“We are confident that we will be able to ensure the rest of the exam goes without major problems,” he added.

The minister said marking of the exam commences on 4th of January 2021 with the results being released on 22 February 2021. This will be the first time schools  reopen before the matric results are out.

Motshekga has further praised learners and educators for managing to navigate the academic year, amid a global pandemic which has limited time in the classroom.

“The 2020 academic year will go down as the most challenging, complex and unpredictable. It has required innovation, courage, collaboration, sacrifice and selflessness. I admire the mental strength of our learners in particular and the dedication of our teachers and officials,” she said.