Quality assurance body, Umalusi has approved the preparations for the 2023 Matric examinations. The audit assessed the readiness of both public (Department of Basic Education and Department of Higher Education and Training) and private assessment bodies (Independent Examinations Board and South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute) to conduct various national exams.
The body checked the state of preparedness of examination bodies to administer the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams National Certificate Vocational (NCV: L2 - L4) exams, NATED Report 190/191 (N2 - N3) exams and the General Education and Training Certificate: Adult Basic Education and Training (GETC: ABET) exams.
Umalusi’s audit framework looked at aspects like registration, moderation, marking, personnel, and exam management. Umalusi will monitor both public and private systems during the exams to ensure compliance with regulations.
Umalusi will monitor the running of the exams in both the public and private assessment systems to ensure that their conduct, administration and management are in full compliance with the relevant regulations.
The audit found that public assessment bodies are generally ready to conduct their respective exams, with minor issues addressed.
Private assessment bodies including the IEB and SACAI, were also deemed ready, with identified risks brought to their attention. Umalusi will hold a media briefing on January 15, 2024, to announce the exam results.
Umalusi also looked at potential threats that could hinder the smooth running of end-of-year exams including loadshedding, cheating, and community protests.
Factors that can disrupt the smooth running of the exams Loadshedding, cheating and community protests are some of the factors that can negatively affect the smooth running of the exams.
They advised assessment bodies to implement precautionary measures for loadshedding which included the procurement of alternative power supply to mitigate the possibility and impact of rolling blackouts.
Umalusi advises all assessment bodies to make alternative arrangements for the supply of power during the writing of exams to mitigate the possibility of loadshedding.
Learners have also been warned against cheating in the upcoming examinations. This includes group cheating which was seen in several provinces in past examinations with some instances of teachers being involved.
Umlusi has also urged communities around South Africa against using the NSC examinations as protest leverage.
Umalusi would like to issue a stern warning to all learners and teachers to refrain from all forms of cheating, including group copying where teachers are sometimes implicated. At the same time, Umalusi discourages communities from using the national exams as leverage for their protest actions.
The quality assurance body also emphasised its commitment to curbing unaccredited institutions from registering candidates and preventing the sale of fake certificates. They work closely with law enforcement to ensure those involved in fraudulent certificate activities face legal consequences, emphasising the authenticity and credibility of their certificates.
[In] the meeting that Umalusi convened on 18 August 2023 with the senior officials from the national and provincial education departments, the IEB and SACAI agreed on measures to be taken to prevent the operation of illegal independent schools and ensure that examinations are only administered at independent schools accredited by Umalusi and registered as examination centres by the PEDs, SACAI or the IEB.
Members of the public can visit Umalusi's website to verify if an independent school or a private college is accredited before making a decision to enrol with it.
Fake Matric Certificates
Regarding the sale of counterfeit or dishonest certificates, Umalusi says its staff, particularly those responsible for certificates, have cooperated with the South African Police Service in interviews.
The ongoing investigations confirm that Umalusi's employees are not involved in this illegal activity. Umalusi will maintain close collaboration with the SAPS to expedite external investigations, ensuring that those engaged in fraudulent activities face the full extent of the law.
It is essential to emphasise that both selling and purchasing fake certificates are criminal offences with severe penalties and constituting crimes against the state.
