Inside Education Reporter
Matric 2023 examination results, which will be announced in Johannesburg on 19 January, have received the thumbs up from quality assurer Umalusi which has approved the release of the November 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
However, the quality assurance body says it is concerned about the unresolved irregularities associated with the previous cycle of examinations, especially in the private college space.
“We urge the assessment bodies concerned to give this matter the priority that it deserves. At the same time, we are deeply concerned about the detected cases of group copying involving 945 candidates who wrote the NSC examinations in 2023.
“Of this number, 763 (80.7%) cases were detected in KwaZulu-Natal and 164 (17.7%) in Mpumalanga. According to the report submitted, these are cases where the candidates displayed common answers and, in some cases, same wrong and right answers. These cases are not yet resolved because the numbers are still being verified,” said chief executive officer Dr Mafu Rakometsi.
Providing an update on the progress made in connection with the problem of selling and buying of fake and /or fraudulent certificates, Rakometsi said eleven (11) suspects have been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on different dates.
The first two suspects were arrested in Burgersfort in Limpopo on 27 October, one suspect was arrested in Pretoria in November, the next three were arrested on 20 November, and the last five were nabbed on 13 December 2023 again in Burgersfort, Limpopo.
On the other hand, the Hawks arrested an employee of the Department of Higher Education on 11 December 2023 for fraudulently issuing a diploma certificate for cash.
The suspect has been charged with corruption and his court case has been postponed to 19 January 2024. “Police investigations are ongoing and Umalusi will continue to work closely with the law enforcement agencies in whatever way possible to ensure that the scammers or fraudsters are made to face the full might of the law. Umalusi would like to reassure the public that its certificates have robust safeguards to protect their authenticity and credibility.”
Rakometsi said Umalusi’s mandate is to issue authentic certificates to qualifying candidates and the organisation has no business with fake certificates. “Fake certificates are issued by scammers or fraudsters who are not employees of Umalusi. We advise all employers both in the public and private sectors to consider verifying their current and future employees’ qualifications through the verification agencies whose contact details are available on the website of Umalusi (www.umalusi.org.za).”
The wait is almost over for the Class of 2023 matriculants.
INSIDE EDUCATION
