National rewrite of two matric papers

Matriculants will sit for a national rewrite of two examination papers after they were leaked, for the first time ever in South Africa.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga made the announcement during a media briefing on Friday, where she provided an update on the progress of the 2020 matric examinations.

“Having considered all of these factors, CEM [Council of Education Ministers] decided that a national rewrite of both Mathematics Paper 2 and Physical Sciences Paper 2 is necessary.

“It was not an easy decision to take but one which is necessary under the circumstances. We need to work hard to deal with the human factor in the examination system. It is clear that the people responsible for leaking the question papers are adults,” said the Minister on Friday.

Mathematics Paper will be written on Tuesday, 15 December 2020, at 14:00, and Physical Sciences Paper 2 will be written on Thursday, 17 December 2020, at 09:00.

Motshekga said while the leaks have been a costly exercise, the decision to rewrite was taken to protect the integrity of the examinations and follows the establishment of an Investigations Task Team to determine the extent of the leak.

The Business Studies exam paper was also rumoured to have been leaked but the department moved swiftly to replace the paper ahead of the exam date and time.

The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation arrested Themba Daniel Shikwambana. Hawks’ spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale had earlier revealed that Shikwambana works for a Johannesburg-based company contracted by the Department of Basic Education to print this year’s Grade 12 examination papers.

Investigations into the leaks are still ongoing with the Minster expressing her hope that more arrests will be made.

 

Done By: Mitchum George

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