KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Mpumalanga have been flagged for the highest number of exam cheating incidents in the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams, according to Umalusi, the body responsible for quality assurance in education. During a press briefing in Pretoria, Umalusi CEO Dr. Mafu Rakometsi revealed that a total of 407 candidates were caught cheating across the country, with KZN and Mpumalanga accounting for 195 and 74 of these cases, respectively. Rakometsi expressed concern over the recurrence of these two provinces at the top of the cheating list.
The CEO made it clear that cheating has no place in the education system, citing the Mpumalanga High Court’s August 2024 ruling, which found 448 learners from several schools guilty of cheating during both their preliminary and final exams in 2022. In response, several teachers and invigilators involved in the malpractice were suspended. However, Rakometsi also highlighted a positive trend, noting a significant decrease in group cheating incidents compared to the previous year. In 2023, there were 945 recorded cases of cheating, while 2024 saw only 407.
In addition to the cheating incidents, Umalusi condemned the actions of an independent school that allowed students who had failed their Grade 11 exams to sit for the Grade 12 NSC exams. Rakometsi emphasized that this was highly irregular and unacceptable. The Department of Basic Education reported the case to Umalusi, resulting in the withdrawal of the 30 candidates’ registrations and the school’s examination status. The school will no longer be permitted to conduct exams, a measure aimed at maintaining the integrity of the education system.
Despite these issues, Umalusi confirmed that the 2024 matric exams were successfully administered, with no significant disruptions caused by load shedding or protests. However, Rakometsi also condemned instances where educators prevented students from writing certain subjects, stressing the need for fair access to all examinations.
