Order to issue results ignored
Matrics in limbo over 2016 exams
The Limpopo department of education has failed to abide by the Polokwane High Court order to release 2016 matric results of 61 pupils within four hours on Friday.
On Friday, pupils from High Quality Education Centre in Giyani were granted an urgent court order against the department.
The department withheld their results as a result of alleged exam irregularities.
Department spokesman Sam Makondo said they had noted the court ruling. “We are a law-abiding department and we are in the process of complying with the order.”
An affidavit filed in the high court by one of the pupils states that on January 6 last year, during the release of national matric results, they were shocked to discover their final results were withheld by the department.
The pupil, Hlayisani Baloyi, said: “The reason was that we were involved in forms of examination irregularities.
“Subsequent to the allegations, the department summoned us before a disciplinary hearing in Polokwane.
“During the hearing learners were not legally represented and we had to conduct our defence.”
She added that, to make matters worse, the disciplinary proceeding was not recorded.
“We were asked why the answers [to exam papers] looked similar and the response was that we were taught by the same educator and that at times learners were organised in groups for purpose of group revisions,” read the affidavit.
Last month, the court ordered the department to release the results, declaring the disciplinary proceeding null and void.
Former pupils Pfuxani Shibambo, 23, and Kulani Ngobeni, 22, both of Giyani, described the waiting as “frustrating and depressing”.
“I have been waking up in the morning for the entire year just to sweep the yard, clean the dishes and eat.
“I have been at home for the entire 2017 and now it is 2018, I haven’t got my results,” Shibambo said.
“The whole fuss is breaking my family, particularly my aunt who is taking care of my educational needs.”
She said that her dream to obtain a diploma was fading.
Ngobeni said he felt powerless because the situation was out of his hands.
“We appeal to the department of education to hear us out and release our results.
“Our future is uncertain at the moment because without those results we can’t do anything academically,” he said.