Durban - The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has vowed to track down members of a syndicate operating in KwaZulu-Natal which was fraudulently assisting adult matric candidates with examination answers.
Last month, Umalusi, the council for quality assurance in education, approved the Senior Certificate results for the May/June exams in all provinces except KZN, after a number of systemic irregularities were detected at 49 of the 95 centres that were part of the original sample of audited scripts.
The national education department then launched an investigation into the extent of irregularities by drawing a larger sample of scripts from all the remaining centres.
In KZN, a total number of 46 322 candidates had registered for the examinations in 365 centres across the province. These were in respect of adult candidates who had written the exams based on the old curriculum.
After a month-long investigation, the department submitted its report to Umalusi on September 9.
Based on the evidence presented, it was clear that the irregularities were widespread, Umalusi said.
However, on the basis of evidence before it, the council said on Thursday it had approved the release of results at 162 centres in KZN. Thousands of students at 203 of the centres would, however, have to wait for their results.
Umalusi said it had taken the decision not to approve the release of results at centres where either gross irregularities were found across subjects, or where the investigation was not yet complete.
The investigative audit was managed by the KZN Department of Education under the supervision of the Department of Basic Education, while Umalusi monitored the investigation to ensure that it was carried out in a fair and credible manner.
A team of 39 subject specialists were commissioned to conduct the investigation.
Fourteen subjects were selected for the audit based on the “disproportionately high” provincial performance in these subjects, compared to the national average, as confirmed by Umalusi.
A DBE spokesman, Elijah Mhlanga, said on Thursday that candidates had been allowed to take part in fraudulent activities and were bringing crib notes into the exam venue.
He said some of the irregularities detected included many students who had made the same mistake in questions, and had different handwriting in the same script, raising suspicions of ghost-writing.
“It is unfortunate because candidates were expecting their results a month ago; now many have been compromised because of the fraudulent activities of a few people who tried to undermine the system. KZN is the only province with this problem,” he said.
Mhlanga said the department would take action against individuals involved in what appeared to be a province-wide syndicate.
“We do not want the integrity of our security system to be compromised. Matric exams (venues) are a sensitive security environment.”
Umalusi could not be reached for comment before deadline.
Daily News