Matric Results Expected on Monday Evening Amid Minor Irregulatities

On Monday morning, the quality assurance body for the basic education sector, Umalusi gave the go ahead for the results of the National Senior Certificate of 2024 to be released. The Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube was on Monday evening expected to release the results in which over 870 000 candidates will be awaiting the outcome.

Speaking on the same day that the top 20 performers in the examinations written in 2024 had their ministerial breakfast, the chairman of the Umalusi Council, Professor Yunus Ballim said the results of the three examination boards, SA Comprehensive Assessment Institute (Sacai), Independent Examinations Board (IEB) and Department of Basic Education, could be released because there were no irregularities during the running of the examinations that could lead to a breach in the integrity and credibility of the examinations.

Also speaking during the media briefing, the Chief Executive Officer of Umalusi, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, said despite the lack of breach in the integrity and credibility of the examinations, the quality assurance body remained highly concerned by the two provinces of KwaZulu Natal and Mpumalanga, which were still recording high incidence of pupils copying during examinations. He said the Umalusi remained seriously concerned that the two provinces still remained on top of the list with pupils being caught cheating. According to available statistics, the number of pupils copying in KwaZulu Natal were 195 with Mpumalang coming in at 74 even though the national total fell from 945 in 2023 to 407 in 2024.

Speaking at the same function, Dr. Rakometsi added that a report in the possession of Umalusi showed that an unnamed private school had allowed about 30 pupils who had not passed Grade 11 to register for Grade 12. He reiterated that this was highly irregular and expressed satisfaction that the deregistration of the school was a fitting sanction. “This is highly irregular. Umalusi is satisfied with the action taken to withdraw the registration status of the school concerned,” he said.

Dr. Rakometsi added that his institution had directed the Department of Higher Education and training to provide them with a report after learning that some colleges had issued clients with N3 and N2 certificates despite the fact that the colleges had not been accredited by his institution. He said that Umalusi had directed the Department of Higher Education and Training to conduct an investigation and furnish his office with a detailed report.