matric rewrite

Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga / Image via GCIS

Basic Education Dept faced with another matric exam leak

The Basic Education Department is weighing its options in the wake of a matric exam leak. Minister Angie Motshekga has condemned the latest leak but said investigations are underway

matric rewrite

Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga / Image via GCIS

The Department of Basic Education has launched an investigation into the leak of another matric examination. The Physical Science Paper 2 matric exam was leaked and circulated before the paper was written on Monday, 23 November 2020.

Department officials met in the wake of the leak and said measures were in place to protect the integrity of the matric exams. Grade 12 pupils began writing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations on 5 November. The exams are set to conclude on 15 December 2020.

Motshekga: Matric exam leak ‘causes untold stress on learners’

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has reacted to the exam leak and reiterated that the consequences can be dire.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the conduct of persons who undermine the integrity of the examination because it causes untold stress on the learners who are looking forward to exiting the schooling system with a pass from an honest examination, not one associated with cheating,” Motshekga said.

It comes after the matric Mathematics Paper 2 exam was also leaked in eight provinces, also ahead of the question paper being written.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, has launched an investigation into the exam leak. The basic education department said the probe is currently at an advanced stage and details would be made public soon.

The department further said it has dispatched teams to provinces to re-check the security systems and further expressed concern over the impact the matric exam leak has on a system which already experienced challenges due to COVID-19.

“We want to reassure the public that we are hard at work to ensure that we protect the examinations. The Hawks have been helpful in working with us and they are encouraging developments coming from their side,” Motshekga further said.

Calls for Basic Education to find perpetrators behind matric exam leak

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is the latest to reiterate its call for the basic education department to get to the bottom of the leak.

“It is vital that we know where this leak originated from to prevent this from happening again. It will also give assurance to both parents and learners that the DBE is on top of this situation,” said the party’s Nomsa Marchesi.