Ball’s now in matrics’ court

Up to pupils to ensure identity info is correct

IN A bid to prevent pupil identification and subjects errors, the Eastern Cape education department has embarked on its final preliminary schedule for matriculants to verify their details before the final exams commence.

This year, matriculants have to ensure their information has been correctly captured at their respective schools. Previously, teachers had to check whether pupils’ subjects, personal information and schools were properly registered in the department’s database.

As a result, scores of Grade 12 pupils found themselves with wrong identification and subjects that they had not chosen, just before examinations.

This led to pupils protesting, demanding that the education department rectify the errors as that would have serious consequences for their future.

For one, should Umalusi print the senior certificate with different information to the students’ identification as recorded by the Department of Home Affairs in their South African ID, correcting the error might take between three and four years, meaning the pupils might struggle to get placement at tertiary institutions.

Provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said they changed the verification system from teachers to pupils due to many errors they recorded.

“This is a final phase for pupils to check their information is correct and intact. By this, we are avoiding last-minute rush and wrong information,” said Mtima.

This first verification check commenced in January and ended in February this year. The second one will close by the end of June.

“The process is open to all schools across the province. This is an appeal to pupils who changed subjects last year, who were transferred to other schools and those who missed February’s deadline,” said Mtima.

The spokesman said pupils who receive contrasting information between their certificate and their identity documents may have to wait “three to four years to change errors in their certificate”.

“We have had a large number of cases where pupils have complained about wrong information. That is why we have given them the responsibility to check their information for themselves.

“In Fort Beaufort, a pupil was disgruntled after the teacher wrote her nickname instead of the pupil’s first name. That is what we are avoiding,” said Mtima.

It is fewer than 200 days until the pupils sit for their final examinations where some will officially end their 12-year schooling career. —