New era for school hit by exam scandal
NEW ERA College, the independent school in Limpopo at the centre of a matric exam cheating scandal last year, is trying to rebuild its reputation.
This comes after the school’s owner, Tinyiko Khosa, was arrested last year in connection with leaking a maths paper. Some pupils were allegedly able to access the questions before the exam.
When the alleged leak surfaced, investigations showed the document was apparently shared on social media by pupils at New Era College.
At the beginning of January, parents at the school in Malamulele, Limpopo, took the Department of Basic Education to court to demand they release their matric results. The high court in Thohoyandou ordered the department to release the interim results.
School registrar Musa Chauke says they are now trying to rebuild their school and move away from the cheating scandal. He added that their enrolment numbers this year were drastically reduced.
“We’ve been struggling with new enrolments. People thought our school was closed. Even last year, just before schools closed, some of our pupils asked for transfer letters as they didn’t think we would open this year. The intake for all grades has been a problem and we are busy with marketing,” Chauke said.
He said part of the problem was that Khosa, who was arrested, was in charge of marketing the school.
“When people called him to enquire about admissions, they couldn’t get through because his cellphone was taken by the police. The Hawks still have his phone.”
Chauke said the school wasn’t the one that hauled the department to court – it was the parents who did.
“The parents didn’t want their children to be disadvantaged and that’s why they went to court.”
Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga did not comment on when hearings into the matter would take place.