Durban - More than a dozen KwaZulu-Natal teachers are among those hauled in to answer to allegations that they helped pupils cheat during matric exams last year.
National Teachers Union deputy president Allen Thompson said his union was aware of 13 teachers, mostly from Msinga outside Greytown, who had been summoned to appear at the uMzinyathi District education office from tomorrow.
The Mercury has also learnt that more than 50 pupils from Mhlakothi High in Msinga, whose geography results have been withheld, have also received letters asking them to appear at the district office.
The Department of Basic Education said 5 300 pupils were under investigation in various provinces.
Both the department and the SA Democratic Teachers Union confirmed that teachers and pupils would appear before education officials in Durban to defend themselves against claims of misconduct during the exams.
Previously, it was reported that 28 exam centres in KZN and 16 in the Eastern Cape were being investigated for cheating. Six centres in Gauteng, two in Mpumalanga, and one each in the Western Cape, North West and Northern Cape, also had irregularities.
Thompson said his union would oppose the summons because it had not been officially told about the investigation.
“We should have been informed about the nature of the investigation because we have to represent those teachers,” he said.
The provincial education spokesman, Muzi Mahlambi, said exam specialists would be part of the investigation.
Mahlambi said on Sunday that if the department found that there had been cheating, there would be serious consequences.
“Exam scripts will be placed before a child and he or she would (have to) justify if they were capable of giving such answers.
“We have to determine whether they cheated as a group or individuals, or if they had cheated at all,” he said.
He said if teachers were involved in providing the pupils with answers, they would either be suspended or expelled.
“Children can be suspended for up to two years without being allowed to write exams,” Mahlambi said.
He said criminal charges would be considered if it was found that an exam question paper was stolen, but so far there had been no evidence of that.
Sadtu provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said her union had recommended that teachers, invigilators, pupils and exam monitors should be questioned about exam cheating.
“If the investigation reveals that our members should be charged we will represent them,” she said.
The department said on Sunday that a team made up of its officials, Umalusi and provincial education officials had been involved in the first phase of the investigation.
“The second phase which commences tomorrow (Monday) will have the team conduct hearings starting with chief invigilators, invigilators and then the affected pupils will appear to tell their side of the story.
“Umalusi will monitor the entire process while teachers’ unions will observe the hearings,” said national department spokesman Elijah Mhlanga.
The Mercury