On Tuesday, an invigilator at Phendukani Full Service High School in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, managed to avert a potential cheating incident during the matric exams.
The invigilator noticed an ‘impostor’ writing a matric paper on behalf of a part-time student and immediately reported the incident to the authorities.
The Phendukani Full Service High School is known for its exceptional academic performance and is one of the top-performing schools in the province. The incident has caused shock and disappointment among the school administration, teachers, and students.
KwaZulu-Natal education MEC, Mbali Frazer, strongly condemned the cheating attempt and assured the public that the matter had been reported to the police.
The department has taken this incident seriously and is committed to maintaining the integrity of the national senior certificate (NSC) exams.
During the first session of the exams, matriculants sat for the two-hour economics paper, followed by foreign language papers, including Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish, Latin, and Portuguese, during the second session.
Frazer expressed her disappointment and stated, ‘We condemn this alleged act of exam irregularity. We have worked hard to prepare our learners for this exam, and we expect these exams to be free of irregularities in keeping with the oath made by learners.’
The department had made extensive plans to prevent cheating and ensure the smooth conduct of the exams. Invigilators were trained to detect and deal with any irregularities, and the incident at Phendukani Full Service High School is a clear demonstration of their commitment to maintaining the integrity of the exams.
The police have been informed about the incident, and further investigations will be carried out to determine the extent of the cheating and identify those involved. The authorities are determined to take appropriate action against anyone found guilty of cheating.
As matric exams continue across the country, it is crucial for all stakeholders to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. Cheating not only undermines the efforts of hardworking students but also erodes the credibility of the education system.
