Phase two probe into exam cheating begins

Phase two of the investigations into the matric mass cheating will begin today. According to spokesman for the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga, this phase of the investigation will see national department officials, Umalusi representatives and provincial education department officials conducting hearings.

Invigilators, their chiefs and affected pupils are expected to appear before the committee and be given an opportunity to tell their side of the story.

“Between January 23 and 26 the provincial examination and assessment irregularities committee will submit their recommendations to the national examination and assessment irregularities committee.

“The final outcome of the investigation will be announced and the results of the candidates whose cases have been cleared will be released. Letters of sanction for candidates found guilty of involvement will then be released,” Mhlanga said.

The department will announce the results of the investigation on January 30.

More than 5000 pupils who sat for last year’s matric examinations were implicated in exam irregularities, according to the department’s report on the matric results.

The department said even though the number represents 0.7% of the 688660 pupils, both part-time and full-time, who wrote the exams, it was concerned because the number rose from 473 in 2013 to 5305 last year.

Mhlanga said the irregularities included the use of crib notes, forged admission letters and candidates caught with cellphones .

There were also cases of impersonation, copying from other pupils, group cheating, late submission of answer scripts and pupils not submitting part of the answer script.

Quality assurance body Umalusi revealed late last year 19 centres in the Eastern Cape were implicated and 39 in KwaZulu-Natal.