Date: 14/02/05
Source: Ministry of Education
Title: Pandor: Report on the Ministerial Committee Established to probe alleged irregularities in Mpumalanga
Statement by the Minister of Education, Mrs Naledi Pandor on the Report of the Ministerial Committee Established to probe alleged irregularities in Mpumalanga
14 February 2005
This is a preliminary statement that seeks to inform the public that the Ministerial Committee established on the 28th of January 2005 to investigate the alleged irregularities in selected centres in Mpumalanga has completed its work and has provided me with a report on their findings and recommendations.
The following persons were appointed to conduct the investigation on behalf of the Minister in terms of the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, No. 58 of 2001.
* Mr MaLele Petje, Convenor, Mr Petje is Head of the Gauteng Department of Education.
* Ms Lucy Moyane, Director, School Education, Department of Education.
* Ms Anne Oberholzer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SAQA.
* Mr Cobus Lotter, Chief Executive Officer, Joint Matriculation Board.
I welcome the sterling work done by the committee within the tight time frames provided to them. I also express my appreciation to the Mpumalanga Department of Education, Umalusi and the SAPS for their role during the investigation.
I will study the report and after consultations with Umalusi, the Mpumalanga Department of Education, Council of Education Ministers and the Examinations Section and the recommendations will be considered and responded to. However at this stage it is possible to make public some of the findings and recommendations of the committee.
Some of the findings by the Committee:
We can confirm that irregularities were found to have been committed at some centres.
The word “irregularity” needs to be redefined. Currently it applies to anything from a learner not registered for the paper to learners being assisted fraudulently during the course of an examination. Clearly there are significant differences in the nature of these “irregularities” and the nature and possible consequences of each should be defined.
Irregularities were identified at specific centres and not province wide. Implementation and monitoring of existing policies and procedures need to become rigorous in Mpumalanga. In particular procedures for reporting of irregularities to the Irregularities Committee e.g. the committee did not receive full documents submitted by a senior marker in the Science Paper.
The recommendations of the committee will be considered. I will table these at the Council of Ministers on the 21st of February 2005 and the appropriate actions to be taken, will be made public.
The improvements in school performance have undoubtedly contributed to increasing public confidence in and the credibility and integrity of the public schooling system. The patriotic and often courageous actions of those who will not turn a blind eye to fraud and cheating are to be commended.
We cannot and shall not tolerate individuals who undermine our systems by fraud and thereby threaten the integrity and legitimacy of our public examinations.
In conducting this investigation, the committee has worked with Umalusi and the Mpumalanga Department of Education. As Umalusi is mandated and has the capacity and subject expertise to conduct content evaluation, the Committee relied on findings from its investigation. Umalusi will finalise its work in the coming week.
The Committee also recommended that both Umalusi and the Department of Education provide support to the Mpumalanga Department of Education to conduct hearings so that those responsible should be held fully accountable for their actions. Existing policies detail the sanctions that should be instituted in the case of learners that are found guilty and if any teachers are found guilty and have breached the trust bestowed on them, the department would charge them as per Employment of Educators Act.
Enquiries: Tommy Makhode
Ministerial spokesperson
Cell: 082 566 0446
Tel: (012) 328 7529
makhode.t@doe.gov.za
Tandi Mapukata
Director: National & Provincial Communication
Cell: 082 453 1757
Tel: (012) 312 5056
mapukata.t@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education
14 February 2005
Source: Ministry of Education
Title: Pandor: Report on the Ministerial Committee Established to probe alleged irregularities in Mpumalanga
Statement by the Minister of Education, Mrs Naledi Pandor on the Report of the Ministerial Committee Established to probe alleged irregularities in Mpumalanga
14 February 2005
This is a preliminary statement that seeks to inform the public that the Ministerial Committee established on the 28th of January 2005 to investigate the alleged irregularities in selected centres in Mpumalanga has completed its work and has provided me with a report on their findings and recommendations.
The following persons were appointed to conduct the investigation on behalf of the Minister in terms of the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, No. 58 of 2001.
* Mr MaLele Petje, Convenor, Mr Petje is Head of the Gauteng Department of Education.
* Ms Lucy Moyane, Director, School Education, Department of Education.
* Ms Anne Oberholzer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, SAQA.
* Mr Cobus Lotter, Chief Executive Officer, Joint Matriculation Board.
I welcome the sterling work done by the committee within the tight time frames provided to them. I also express my appreciation to the Mpumalanga Department of Education, Umalusi and the SAPS for their role during the investigation.
I will study the report and after consultations with Umalusi, the Mpumalanga Department of Education, Council of Education Ministers and the Examinations Section and the recommendations will be considered and responded to. However at this stage it is possible to make public some of the findings and recommendations of the committee.
Some of the findings by the Committee:
We can confirm that irregularities were found to have been committed at some centres.
The word “irregularity” needs to be redefined. Currently it applies to anything from a learner not registered for the paper to learners being assisted fraudulently during the course of an examination. Clearly there are significant differences in the nature of these “irregularities” and the nature and possible consequences of each should be defined.
Irregularities were identified at specific centres and not province wide. Implementation and monitoring of existing policies and procedures need to become rigorous in Mpumalanga. In particular procedures for reporting of irregularities to the Irregularities Committee e.g. the committee did not receive full documents submitted by a senior marker in the Science Paper.
The recommendations of the committee will be considered. I will table these at the Council of Ministers on the 21st of February 2005 and the appropriate actions to be taken, will be made public.
The improvements in school performance have undoubtedly contributed to increasing public confidence in and the credibility and integrity of the public schooling system. The patriotic and often courageous actions of those who will not turn a blind eye to fraud and cheating are to be commended.
We cannot and shall not tolerate individuals who undermine our systems by fraud and thereby threaten the integrity and legitimacy of our public examinations.
In conducting this investigation, the committee has worked with Umalusi and the Mpumalanga Department of Education. As Umalusi is mandated and has the capacity and subject expertise to conduct content evaluation, the Committee relied on findings from its investigation. Umalusi will finalise its work in the coming week.
The Committee also recommended that both Umalusi and the Department of Education provide support to the Mpumalanga Department of Education to conduct hearings so that those responsible should be held fully accountable for their actions. Existing policies detail the sanctions that should be instituted in the case of learners that are found guilty and if any teachers are found guilty and have breached the trust bestowed on them, the department would charge them as per Employment of Educators Act.
Enquiries: Tommy Makhode
Ministerial spokesperson
Cell: 082 566 0446
Tel: (012) 328 7529
makhode.t@doe.gov.za
Tandi Mapukata
Director: National & Provincial Communication
Cell: 082 453 1757
Tel: (012) 312 5056
mapukata.t@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education
14 February 2005
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