Umalusi warns sternly against cheating during exams

The CEO of the quality assurance agency, Mafu Rakometsi, addressed the media on Friday morning about her readiness for the 2024 exams.

“We would like to issue a stern warning to all students and teachers to refrain from involvement in all forms of cheating during the exams,” Rakometsi said.

“Umalusi denounces and condemns this criminal practice with the contempt it deserves. Cheating jeopardizes the integrity of our national examination system, which as a quality council we must jealously protect, and I refer here to Umalusi that cheating does not pay, as evidenced by the judgment of the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court.”

His warning follows the Mpumalanga Class of 2022 cheating scandal, which led to the department withholding the results of more than 400 exams.

The 2024 matric class is expected to start exams in a week.

More than 700,000 full-time candidates will sit for the exams, while more than 136,000 part-time candidates across 7,000 exam centers are expected to participate.

Ramoketsi said the council is working hard to ensure errors in the questionnaires are eliminated.

Last year there was an omission of a subscript on the formula of an organic compound in Physical Sciences Paper 2, while Physical Sciences Paper 2 in the North West was missing grid lines, and three Civil Engineering specializations had major printing errors in both the English and African versions in Limpopo.

“To strengthen our oversight role as a quality board, Umalusi has intensified the training of all our external moderators. In addition, we have had targeted training sessions with the external moderators responsible for topics that have led to public debates in the past,” said Rakometsi.

“Umalusi’s external moderators are required to thoroughly proofread papers before approving them, ensuring that all aspects are error-free and in line with exam standards. Umalusi believes that there should be no errors in the question papers. “

Rakometsi also confirmed that the investigation into the cheating incidents during the 2023 exams has been completed.

“Based on the findings, the results of the candidates found guilty have been annulled and the candidates have been excluded from one to three exam settings, depending on the severity of each case.”

He further discourages communities from using the exams as leverage for any form of protest action.

“It is the duty of every South African to protect the education of our children. We will deploy officials to monitor the conduct of examinations to ensure full compliance with relevant regulations. We appeal to parents, guardians, teachers and all other stakeholders to provide necessary support to all candidates during this critical period of their educational journey and do everything humanly possible to ensure that no candidate is unnecessarily disadvantaged.

“We appeal to all South Africans to support these important exams. That is our call. Umalusi wishes the class of 2024 all the best and determination as they enter the final round of their journey in our country’s general and secondary education and training system.”

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