File picture: Chris Collingridge
DESPITE the fact that Department of Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga has confirmed that the department will investigate the matric exam cheating scandal in Mpumalanga, ActionSA has called for the arrest of the teachers involved.
This follows reports that money was allegedly paid to teachers to help matric pupils cheat in their final exams by providing answers in WhatsApp groups.
It's been alleged that pupils paid R1,500 to the teachers to join the WhatsApp group. During exams, the pupils allegedly went to the toilets to check the answers on their phones.
"Those teachers who have been found to have acted unlawfully must be discharged, prosecuted, and jailed," said ActionSA.
"ActionSA is calling for the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, to urgently suspend the alleged conspirators and nullify the results of the learners who have been found to have unduly benefited from the cheating scheme involved to safeguard what integrity is left in the matric examination process and the subsequent results."
ActionSA says copying and cheating in exams is criminal and all perpetrators must be brought to book. The corrupt teachers have acted disgracefully and must face the full might of the law, it said.
"We urge, in the strongest terms possible, that the Minister of Basic Education, her MEC in Mpumalanga, and all officials act decisively and mitigate the damage this will have to the integrity of the matric examination process, particularly for those studious learners who studied hard and obeyed the rules."
"It is not every student and every learner that is corrupt, and they should not be painted with the same brush. It is important that this matter is resolved speedily."
The Mpumalanga Department of Education shared a statement on Monday that the allegations of cheating were being investigated.
"The department is disturbed that there are people and forces who are hell-bent to do anything and everything to bypass systems put in place to uphold the credibility and integrity of the public examinations. 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."
"The department requests that time be given for the investigation to take place and requests that all those who have information about this cheating and misconduct need to co-operate accordingly. The department will henceforth await the outcome of the investigation before determining the cause of action to be undertaken going forward," the department said.