PROGRESS MADE IN GROUP COPYING INVESTIGATIONS

18 June 2015

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has been working tirelessly to finalise the on-going investigations into group copying in both KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape and is pleased with progress made thus far.

The hearings have been completed in 50% of the implicated centres in the Eastern Cape and are currently underway in KwaZulu-Natal. It is expected the hearings will be finalised by the end of this month and the investigating team will then be able to report on their findings and a decision regarding those implicated can be taken.

The Department has no intention to prevent implicated learners from completing their schooling indefinitely; we want these learners to go on to have a bright future. The provisions in the examination regulations stipulate that those found guilty of cheating in the NSC examinations can be excluded from writing the examinations for a period of three years.

We are however aware that even one year is a long period of time in the life of a child, and while we want to teach these learners a valuable lesson and create a strong deterrent from future participation in such behaviour, we will also be sympathetic in our approach to the learners and in each case the sanction will be determined by the merits of the case. However principals, teachers and invigilators implicated will face full disciplinary action as they should be more responsible and should be setting a positive example for those intrusted in their tutorship.

It must also be noted that the DBE strongly condemns the attacks on our officials investigating the group copying allegations in KwaZulu-Natal. Violence will not solve the problems of those implicated but will only serve to worsen their situation.

In at least three centres where the hearings were scheduled, learners engaged in violent protests, where cars have been damaged; officials have been locked out of the venue, and in another case they were locked in at the venue, all in an attempt to intimidate those conducting the hearings. This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and law enforcement authorities will be called in to deal with rogue elements perpetuating the violence. We have opened a criminal case with the police and those who damaged cars and property will be dealt with in terms of the law.

On the other hand we appreciate the support of the larger number of parents and learners that have co-operated with the Department of Education in ensuring that the hearings could continue in a non-intimidating environment.

The DBE has taken a decision to move the hearings from certain venues to more secure locations. We will not be intimidated and the hearings will go on as scheduled. Those resorting to such violent and drastic measures appear as if they have something to hide; we will work closely with police to have them arrested. These disruptions are not consistent with the numerous calls made to the department to finalise the investigation as quickly as possible, which the department is committed to do. These disruptions only serve to delay the inevitable outcome for those who may be found guilty at the end of this process.

We have received confessions from a significant number of learners who have indicated that they were assisted by adults invigilating or by their teachers and principals. The Department has indicated that honesty will be considered as a positive mitigating factor and we would encourage learners who have information and wish to confess, to join the many who have already done so.

The phenomenon of group copying and the manner in which it involved teachers and invigilators was something the department had not experienced and therefore was not adequately prepared for. However this experience has brought with it many lessons and we are determined to prevent such from recurring in any national examinations. Thus a number of measures will be put in place for the 2015 NSC.

Public Examination centres across each province will be categorised into three risk categories and based on the risk category, the invigilation procedure will be determined:

(i) High Risk Centres (HRC) will be administered fully by the province or district.

(ii) Medium Risk Centres (MRC) will have a full-time resident monitor placed at the centre.

(iii) Low Risk Centres (LRC) will be administered by the school with a roving monitor.

Another measure which will be used to identify high risk centres will be through curriculum implementation monitoring. One of the findings during the course of investigations is that one of the reasons for the group copying was that the curriculum had not been adequately covered during the course of the academic year. Provincial hot lines will be set up where learners or teachers will be able to report irregularities, and independent schools will only be allowed to administer the public examination if they are registered by the PED for teaching and learning and accredited by Umalusi, they will only have the right to do so if they have a clear track record.

Invigilation will also be strengthened across all centres and all invigilators will undergo a nationally approved training programme. Where there is a need and if the PED lacks the resources, the DBE will appoint Chief Invigilators, resident monitors and roving monitors.

In the case of the KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Eastern Cape provinces, the DBE will appoint a resident monitor at the provincial level to monitor all examination processes from the beginning of the cycle until the end of the cycle. This resident monitor will report to the DBE on a weekly basis.

We are confident that these measures will go a long way to prevent anything of this nature taking place again in the future and we will continue to keep parents, learners and the media up to date on progress and the final outcome of the investigation.

Statement issued by Elijah Mhlanga, Department of Basic Education, June 18 2015