By Karabo Rammutla
Mpumalanga has once again been caught in a matric cheating scandal.
News24 reports that 1,127 from Mpumalanga schools were involved in the scandal.
It’s alleged that learners paid teachers up to R1,500 to join WhatsApp groups where answers were posted while exams were in session.
This will not be the first time Mpumalanga schools have been involved in an exam cheating scandal.
In 2015 the Department of Basic Education launched an investigation into allegations of cheating involving the province.
Nineteen of the state-employed educators involved in the Mpumalanga matric cheating scandal were found guilty of misconduct.
At the time, the teachers were fined R3,000 and issued with written warnings.
In 1998 the Mpumalanga Department of Education fired two high-ranking officials for their involvement in that year’s matric scandal in which the pass rates were fraudulently inflated to 72%.
In the recent scandal it is believed some educators and invigilators helped pupils cheat.
It is alleged that in addition to posting answers on the WhatsApp groups, invigilators provided answers to pupils during toilet breaks and even passed crib notes to them in exam halls.
The department’s Elijah Mhlanga told Newzroom Africa they have been doing some work to verify the allegations of cheating in Mpumalanga.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that this has happened,” said Mhlanga.
“But on a matter like this, you need to have good credible evidence that will ensure you get a guilty verdict when it comes to the disciplinary process.”
The National Association of School Governing Bodies has called for a thorough investigation while the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has called on Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga to urgently investigate these allegations to protect the integrity of the exams.
Pictured above: Matric certificate
Image source: Umalusi
