NATIONAL NEWS - A cheating scandal has rocked education circles in Mpumalanga. It is alleged that teachers, via a WhatsApp group named the ‘Road to Varsity’, allegedly provided Grade 12 learners with exam answers in exchange for money.
The scandal, allegedly involving three schools in the Manyeleti Circuit in the Bohlabela District, was revealed by whistle-blowers, and has sparked an investigation by the Mpumalanga Department of Education as well as the Department of Basic Education.
In a statement released yesterday, the department said it views the allegations of cheating in a serious light.
It is alleged that teachers were paid as much as R1 500 to send the correct answers to learners via WhatsApp.
The names of the schools involved have not been made public.
The Mpumalanga DA is calling for the department to name and shame the schools at which allegations of exam cheating were made.
The provincial DA leader, Jane Sithole, says according to some learners and community members, exam cheating practices in the concerned area have been going on for years.
“Apparently, learners and invigilators collude to bypass systems put in place to uphold the credibility and integrity of the public examinations.”
Sithole says while they wait for the investigations’ outcome, the school’s or schools’ names must be made known to the public.
“The department cannot be seen to be protecting these schools where this shocking revelation has surfaced. Any learner who acquires a senior certificate through scrupulous means, will struggle at higher education level and may not be able to obtain their qualification as intended.”
The spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga, says, “The department requests that time is given for the investigation to take place and that all those who have information about this cheating and misconduct, must co-operate accordingly. The department will await the outcome of the investigation before determining the cause of action going forward.
“The department is disturbed that there are people and forces who are hell-bent to do anything and everything to cheat. The good thing is that the department has advanced and sophisticated processes in place to identify such people or forces and to expose them for who and what they are,” Mhlanga says.
