As the 2024 Grade 12 exams come to a close today, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has provided an update on the exam process, including the contentious issue of how matric results will be made public. Despite the Information Regulator’s recent ruling against the publication of individual results in newspapers, Gwarube confirmed that the department will continue with the traditional practice of publishing results in print media unless a court intervenes. This decision has sparked ongoing debate about privacy, transparency, and the lawful processing of personal data.
Gwarube addressed concerns over the successful administration of the 2024 matric exams, acknowledging some challenges, particularly in regions affected by severe flooding. Learners in areas like the Eastern Cape had to reschedule their exams, but overall, the department was pleased with the execution of the examinations, citing minimal irregularities. The minister credited the success to the collective efforts of educators, examiners, and students who remained resilient in the face of adversity. Despite these challenges, she maintained that the exams had gone largely as planned.
The controversy surrounding the publication of matric results arose when the Information Regulator ruled that the Department of Basic Education had breached privacy laws by disclosing students’ results through public platforms, such as newspapers. However, Minister Gwarube expressed confidence that the publication of results by exam number—rather than by student name—would not violate any privacy laws. She emphasized that providing results in a public format is vital for transparency and accessibility, allowing students, parents, and guardians to easily access the outcomes of years of hard work.
In response to the Information Regulator’s warning, Gwarube suggested that the department would not be deterred unless a court order intervenes. “Our view is that the benefit of being able to access your results on a publicly accessible platform is useful, and we don’t think the publication of a unique exam number will contravene somebody’s information,” she said. While the controversy continues to swirl, the department remains firm in its position, confident that their approach is both beneficial and legally sound.
With the exams now over, the focus has shifted to the next critical phase of the process: marking. Minister Gwarube outlined the department’s meticulous plans for grading the millions of exam papers, a task that will involve over 50,000 markers across 181 centers nationwide. The marking process, which officially begins on 27 November 2024, will be a large-scale operation requiring precision, dedication, and teamwork to ensure that the results are accurate and fair. She assured the public that the department is committed to maintaining the integrity of the process, which is central to determining the future prospects of thousands of learners.
As the marking process begins, Gwarube urged all stakeholders, from examiners to administrators, to remain focused on the task at hand. She acknowledged that the task ahead is monumental but emphasized the importance of a thorough and accurate process in determining the outcomes of the hard work that students have put into their education. The final results, once processed and verified, will provide students and their families with a clear picture of their academic achievements, as well as open doors to further education or employment opportunities. However, the question of how those results will be made public remains a key issue, with legal and privacy concerns likely to shape the conversation in the coming weeks.
