Education ministers question ‘no rewrite’ ruling

The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) will approach the court to “rectify” some aspects in the high court judgment that halted the rewriting of two leaked matric papers.

In a statement released on Saturday, the council said it noted a “number of aspects in the judgment that cannot be left unchallenged”.

“After consulting broadly and extensively with lawyers, the court will be approached to correct those identified aspects of the judgment,” the council said.

On Friday, the High Court in

Pretoria set aside the decision that matric pupils rewrite the mathematics paper 2 and physical science paper 2 exams, following them being leaked in November.

Responding to the ruling, the CEM said the court did not properly address the “credibility, integrity and fairness” of the 2020 matric examination. Another concern was Judge Norman Davis’ “tone and language” while delivering the judgment on Friday.

“Some of the findings of the court are discordant with applicable basic education legislative provisions and some findings were made against the department on issues that were not even raised in the court papers. The CEM was particularly concerned about the tone and language used by the honourable judge.”

Nonetheless, the CEM said it had decided the two papers would not be rewritten. “The class of 2020, their teachers and their parents should take solace in CEM’s decision that the [exam papers] will not be rewritten on 15 and 17 December 2020,” Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said in the statement.

“Enjoy your Christmas and

New Year’s break, rest and recharge for 2021 ... but you must observe all Covid-19 health, safety and social distancing protocols at all times.”

The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union and lobby group AfriForum approached the high court seeking the reversal of the decision by Motshekga that matric pupils would have to rewrite the two papers.

A number of pupils were against the decision, with some taking to social media to complain.

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