Matric students across the country will have to rewrite two exams for the first time in the country’s history of the National Senior Certificate examinations. This follows after both the Maths Paper 2 and Physical Sciences Paper 2 were leaked two weeks ago.
Following an investigation by the Investigations Task Team to determine the extent of the leak, it was decided that learners must rewrite the two papers.
“Some of the key findings are that the viral spread of information on the cyber networks made it virtually impossible to accurately identify the number of learners that have had access to the leaked question papers,” said Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga in a statement on Friday, December 4.
“We consulted key stakeholders on the matter; from school governing body associations, school principals association, teacher unions and the quality assurance agency, UMALUSI. There was convergence on the need to protect the integrity of the examination and to expose the culprits who place the lives of our learners at risk.
“The National Senior Certificate (NSC) is the flagship qualification relating to schooling. Credibility of the NSC examination is of paramount importance. Any lingering doubt relating to the credibility of the NSC examinations must be thoroughly investigated and addressed. Avoiding prior access to the question paper is what all security measures are directed towards.
“Having considered all of these factors, CEM [Council of Education Ministers] decided that a national rewrite of both Mathematics Paper 2 and Physical Sciences Paper 2 is necessary.
Mathematics Paper will be written on Tuesday December 15, 2020 at 2pm, and Physical Sciences Paper 2 will be written on Thursday, December 17 2020 at 9am.
Below are the dates for rewriting Mathematics Paper 2, Physical Science P2, as well as CAT and IT pic.twitter.com/tEPBLbvj2j
— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) December 4, 2020
“It was not an easy decision to take but one which is necessary under the circumstances. We need to work hard to deal with the human factor in the examination system. It is clear that the people responsible for leaking the question papers are adults,” Motshekga added.
An investigation is still underway, and an arrest has already been made.
Picture: screenshot from livestream
