Three Mpumalanga teachers and a principal have appeared in the White River Magistrate’s Court in connection with alleged examination irregularities, an official said on Wednesday.
The four from the William English Medium School, a private school in Hazyview, were released on bail of R5 000 each on Tuesday when the case was postponed to February 27 and transferred to the Middelburg Regional Court, said Mpumalanga education spokesperson Thomas Msiza.
South African Broadcasting Corporation radio news named them as the principal and owner of the school, William Mhaule, and teachers Mclean Moyo, Michael Bizah Shabangu and Jeffrey Mgidi.
William English Medium School is one of 11 schools in Mpumalanga probed last year for grade-12 examination irregularities.
Msiza said a provincial examination irregularities committee (PEIC) has been set up to deal with matric-exam irregularities and will make recommendations on the appropriate action to the provincial head of the department.
It will work with the national examinations irregularities committee.
”The PEIC will also look into irregularities taking place in independent schools or any other examination centre registered as such with the provincial department of education,” Msiza said.
He said this year’s matric examination was completed without disruptions. Marking of the more than 600 000 scripts will start on Thursday. The results will be announced on December 29 at the Graceland hotel in Secunda.
Nearly 900 Mpumalanga matric pupils did not receive matric certificates last year because of irregularities in their final exams.
The irregularities were discovered after a two-month investigation. It was found teachers had helped matriculants write their exams. During the investigation, 14 moderators evaluated scripts of nearly 2 000 candidates.
When there was evidence supporting allegations of irregularity, the education department conducted hearings with the candidates.
All results from William English Medium School were declared null and void.
In May, the Mpumalanga education department said 61 teachers would be charged for involvement in the exam fraud.
The matrics were given another opportunity to write their final exams this year.
The department also appointed invigilators and permanent monitors at schools to minimise the chances of cheating. — Sapa