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The Inkatha Freedom Party in KwaZulu-Natal is concerned that the Department of Education has not given any assurances that the debacle of “group copying” will not occur again this year.

“In 2014 the phenomenon of group copying was exposed and created much discussion and raised concern about the credibility of the matriculation exams. As we now approach the 2015 matric exams, the department still has not finalised its investigations and released a report into the findings. We have still to hear of any sanctions against those who facilitated group copying and those who were responsible at the schools concerned to prevent such malpractice from occurring. Those learners who had their results withheld by the department are still awaiting the outcome of the investigations so that they may get on with their lives. These young people have had their lives put on hold with no indication of when they will receive their results. It would appear that the department is dragging its feet while the future of these young people hangs in the balance”, said IFP KZN Spokesperson on Education, Mrs Thembeni Madlopha-Mthethwa, MPL.

"The IFP is concerned that the same security measures and the same people who allowed mass copying to take place will be employed again this year. The department needs to provide assurances that there will not be a repetition of what happened last year and this can only happen if the department has finalised its investigations and has taken stern action against those educators and monitors who were responsible to ensure that the exams were conducted in a proper manner," continued Mrs Madlopha-Mthethwa.

"We will not allow our children to be encouraged to commit fraud so that certain schools will look good because those learners produced good results. It would be correct to assume that educators at the schools concerned did not do their work during the course of 2014 and therefore had to resort to desperate, criminal measures to show good results. Young people must not be taught to engage in fraudulent activity in order to achieve success in life. We will be monitoring how the exams are conducted and will seek assurances from the Head of Department, Dr Sishi in order to give confidence to our learners”, concluded Mrs Madlopha-Mthethwa.

Issued by IFP