Motshekga: Rewrite judgement does not restore NSC exam credibility

Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, has in her update on her department’s readiness for the 2021 academic year, weighed in on the re-examination of the leaked matric papers saga.

Motshekga defended her department’s decision calling for a rewrite of the leaked grade 12 Mathematics and Physical Science paper 2 examinations in the briefing, explaining their intention was to restore the integrity and credibility of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams. The Basic Education Minister says Pretoria High Court Judge Norman Davis’ decision to set the rewrites aside, fails to restore the credibility and fairness of the examinations.

MATRIC REWRITE SET ASIDE, MOTSHEKGA TO CHALLENGE ASPECT OF JUDGEMENT

Motshekga and company were dragged to court in December by Afriforum and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) amongst others who were challenging the decision to rewrite paper 2 examinations which were leaked on Whatsapp ahead of them being written.

On 11 December, Davis declared the decision as unlawful and irregular and ordered Basic Education management to ensure that the scripts of learners who were not involved in the leaking of the papers to be marked.

Motshekga said some of Davis’ findings were not in accordance with the department’s legislative provisions and as such, their legal team is looking into avenues of challenging those findings.

“Any compromise of the NSC examinations cannot only be justified through the number of the defaulting candidates, but mainly through the extent of the compromise. We must state upfront that the compromise, was not localised, as was the case in 2016, but it was widespread, as all provinces were implicated”

Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga

DBE TO PRESENT UMALUSI WITH IRREGULARITIES REPORT

On 12  February – ten days ahead of the official release of the matric results – DBE will present an irregularities report to the Umalusi Council, who will then pronounce on the fairness of the examinations.

However, it is important to note that Umalusi has already commented on the matter, releasing a statement on the Pretoria High Court Judgment expressing their disappointment in the ruling, but maintaining that they as a quality assurance body respect the judgement. They pledged to continue to work alongside the relevant stakeholders on the issue.

In the meantime, the marking of the matric exams begins on 4 January 2021, with results expected on 22 February 2021.