The release of the 2024 matric results by the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) has sparked a wave of disappointment and frustration among parents and learners across the country. Many are voicing their concerns over the discrepancy between the final exam marks and the academic performance displayed throughout the year. Among those most affected is Priscilla Shanmugam, a mother whose daughter completed her matric via the University of Cape Town’s Online High School (UCT OHS). Shanmugam expressed disbelief at the grades her daughter received, which she felt did not reflect her daughter’s consistent academic performance leading up to the exams.
Shanmugam’s daughter had been a top performer, excelling across her subjects with impressive year averages. Yet, the final marks told a different story, leaving the family perplexed. “Her final grades were not consistent with her academic performance throughout the year. This raises serious concerns about the accuracy and fairness of the assessment process,” Shanmugam said in an interview. The same sentiment was echoed by other parents, with many describing their children’s results as “appalling” or “unbelievable.”
Asante Mokhuoa, another concerned parent, took to social media to express her outrage over the shocking decline in her niece’s results. According to Mokhuoa, her niece had consistently achieved strong marks in subjects like Physical Science and Mathematics, with averages of 80% and 86% respectively. However, when the results were revealed, the marks had plummeted to a startling 25% and 36%. “How does a consistent performer with year averages of 80% in Physical Science and 86% in Maths suddenly drop to 25% and 36% respectively?” Mokhuoa asked on X (formerly Twitter). The drastic drop in performance not only caused distress for the learner but also jeopardized a university bursary, putting the future she had worked so hard for in serious jeopardy.
Micalla Lucas, another parent, shared a similar story, expressing her shock at her daughter’s disappointing marks despite her consistent work throughout the year. “We were totally shocked and disheartened when we received her results. SACAI needs to sort out this mess,” Lucas said, adding to the growing chorus of dissatisfied voices.
SACAI, which is an accredited non-profit private body responsible for assessing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams, has defended its role in the assessment process. Chris Klopper, CEO of SACAI, responded to the backlash by clarifying that the marks awarded during the exam are solely based on the correctness and quality of the responses provided by learners. He emphasized that SACAI cannot be blamed for any discrepancies, as it does not influence the teaching or preparation of students. “If a learner does not spend at least 45 focused hours per week behind the books, problems can be expected,” Klopper explained, likening the situation to blaming a referee in a match when a player has not trained sufficiently.
Klopper also suggested that some institutions may be giving learners inflated marks in their School-Based Assessments (SBAs), which do not accurately reflect their abilities. “The reality is, it is much more difficult to perform well as a homeschooler or learner at a distance education provider because you must depend on your self-discipline,” he stated. Despite the frustrations of some, SACAI pointed to the many learners who had excelled, including those who earned distinctions and top marks, claiming that the majority of candidates had no issues with the marking system.
The controversy over the 2024 matric results has also prompted UCT OHS to step forward. The school acknowledged the concerns raised by its students and their families and assured that it is working closely with SACAI to address the issues. Darryn Lee, a spokesperson for UCT OHS, stated that the school is conducting its own internal analysis while encouraging students to engage directly with SACAI regarding any discrepancies in their results. “We are taking every query raised with us with the utmost importance,” Lee said, adding that the school remains committed to supporting its 2024 matric cohort, especially those who did not achieve the results they were hoping for.
UCT OHS pointed out that despite the negative reactions, the school has had a number of learners who excelled in the SACAI assessments, including top performers in national rankings and learners who achieved a commendable number of distinctions. “Overall, the matric class of 2024 achieved 566 distinctions, which is a remarkable achievement for such a diverse body of learners,” Lee remarked. He also noted that the school had provided extensive support throughout the year, including subject-specific boot camps and mastery sessions to ensure students were well-prepared for their exams.
SACAI has made it clear that learners and parents are entitled to request a re-check or re-mark of their exam papers. Those who feel their results do not reflect their abilities can log onto the SACAI website or email the institution directly to request a review. This offers a potential route for learners seeking recourse, as well as a glimmer of hope for those whose futures depend on their exam performance.
The controversy surrounding SACAI’s 2024 matric results underscores the complex and sometimes contentious nature of the assessment process. While SACAI defends its methods and highlights the challenges faced by distance learners and homeschoolers, many parents and learners remain unconvinced, calling for greater transparency and accountability. As the debate continues to unfold, it is clear that the outcome of the 2024 matric exams will have lasting implications for both the institution and the students affected.
