The Department of Basic Education has launched an investigation into allegations of cheating in the recent national senior certificate exams involving 1189 pupils from six provinces.
Of this number, 1127 pupils were believed to be from schools in Mpumalanga where learners paid money to join the group which provided answers. It is alleged that answers were posted while exams were in session.
The scandal reportedly included WhatsApp groups on which pupils could pay teachers up to R1500 to share answers while exams were in session.
One of these WhatsApp groups was allegedly called “Road to Varsity” and provided answers to maths and physical science exam questions.
It is believed some teachers and invigilators helped pupils cheat.
A whistle-blower claimed that over 370 grade 12 students from three Mpumalanga school were part of the “Road to Varsity” WhatsApp group. There were at least two other similar groups that used subscription fees.
The whistle-blower also reported other forms of cheating. This included teachers giving out answers during toilet breaks, passing crib notes to learners in exams, and telling learners to keep a second cell phone in their sock in case they were asked to hand in their first phone.
The Department of Basic Education has confirmed that it was investigating the allegations which came from complaints lodged with its WhatsApp hotline set up to field reports of exam irregularities.
Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga further revealed that the subject identified in the Mpumalanga exam cheating racket was Economics.
In Gauteng it is alleged that 53 pupils cheated in the Economics paper 1 exam while four candidates were accused of cheating in the maths literacy exam in the Eastern Cape.
Three pupils were also flagged for cheating in the maths literacy exams in the North West, Limpopo and Western Cape each had one pupil who allegedly cheated in the English paper.
Mhlanga confirmed that an investigation into the matter is underway.
Source: News24, My Broadband, image from Twitter: @RantsSouth