Department weighs options after second matric paper leak

Consternation greeted news of the leak of a second matric exam paper this week.

On Monday, the basic education department confirmed the physical science paper 2 had been leaked. The maths paper 2 was leaked last Monday.

The Public Servants Association (PSA), which represents thousands of educators and administrative staff at schools across the country, said the leaks derecognised the hard work done by educators to push the syllabus and ensure that learners are ready ”.

The Eastern Cape manager for the PSA in Mthatha, Thami Makuzeni, said the leaks were indicative of the pressures Grade 12 pupils faced.

The National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) described cheating as unwarranted ”.

NASGB Eastern Cape chair Monga Peter said whatever the

“ prevailing circumstances that

”

would lead pupils to cheat, as a

“

responsible organisation... we do not wish for any form of cheating to take place ”.

Provincial education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said the province had not been left unscathed by the

“”

leaks.

They have affected almost

“

all provinces. They were identified in some social media platforms,” he said.

Mtima said the investigation was at a sensitive stage and

“”

more information would be provided when possible.

On Monday night, national basic education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the council of education ministers held an urgent meeting to consider the

“

implications of the latest developments with the leak of

”

the two papers.

Mhlanga said the Hawks would investigate the maths paper 2 leak and that teams would recheck the security

“

systems in all provinces.

”

The department said a decision on whether all pupils or only those in a circuit, district or province would rewrite maths paper 2 would be based on the recommendation of the investigative team.

Some maths experts warned against ordering all pupils to rewrite the paper.

Deonarian Brijall, a professor of maths in the faculty of applied sciences at the Durban University of Technology, said most learners were not exposed to the leaked paper and should not [bear]

“

the brunt of a rewrite ”.

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Whatever the prevailing circumstances [that would lead pupils to cheat] as a responsible organisation ... we do not wish for any form of cheating to take place