Annexure C

Witbank High School

1999-03-08

Mr Lukas Mello
Deputy Director General of Education
Private Bag X251863
MIDDELBURG
1050

RE: PROBLEMS WITH MATRICULATION MARKS

1. Upon release of the 1998 matric results it was clearly apparent that the Biology results for our school were wholly incorrect.
2. The Higher Grade average was almost 20% belong what is usually attained.
3. The marks of individual pupils were also clearly incorrect. For instance Mohamed Suliman obtained distinctions for his other six subjects but was given D Symbol for Biology.
4. 4. This was brought to the attention of Department officials immediately but they were unwilling to assist in rectifying the error.
5. Owing to the fact that Mohamed Suliman was one of the Top Three students in Mpumalanga and with persistent pressure from his parents the Department changed his mark from a D Symbol to an A Symbol and instated him as the Top Achiever in Mpumalanga.
6. The Department was, however, not willing to investigate the remainder of our pupils' Biology marks.
7. A letter dated 1999-01-13 sent to Mrs Ndlovana with regard to this matter remains unanswered to date.
8. A number of the affected pupils then applied for a remark of their papers.
9. The remarks have since been released and there were no changes made.

POINTS OF CONCERN:

1. It is universally clear that the Biology marks of this school were either tampered with by the Department, or the papers were woefully in-adequately marked in the first place.
2. There are a number of ex-Model C schools in Mpumalanga with the same problem.
3. The Department was willing to change Mohamed Suliman's mark but unwilling to investigate the concerns of other pupils.
4. Our pupils have been negatively affected in that some have failed to be awarded bursaries which they would have got if the correct Biology marks had been on their matriculation results, and some have been denied access to their preferred field of study because of the marks mix-up.
5. Pupils had to pay R48.00 for a re-mark where no changes in their marks were forthcoming. We find this extremely difficult to believe.
6. Mrs Andrew, our Biology teacher, is without doubt one of the finest Biology teachers in Mpumalanga, if not in South Africa. Her record over thirty years of teaching speaks for itself. She has also been closely involved in the metric Biology administration in Mpuma1anga, and as chief Marker has prepared the memorandum for the final examination used by the markers.
7. The pupils write three full length examinations at our school during their matric year, before writing the Departmental exam. The standard of these exams is on a par with, if not more strict, than the final examination. The results achieved during 1998 were in line with our previous record and are another reason why the results obtained by our pupils are viewed with such incredulity.
8. We can accept that the marks of certain candidates were adjusted upwards, but we cannot accept that marks have been taken away from our school to do so.

OUR URGENT APPEAL:

1. We as the Governing Body of the school urgently request that an investigation be instituted as a matter of urgency into:

1. the Biology results themselves, and
2. the administration of the marks and how the adjustments were made.

2. We furthermore urgently request you to allow Mrs Andrew and the parents concerned to view a few of the problem candidates' scripts in order that justice might be seen to have been done.
3. As a separate issue we have grave misgivings concerning the integrity of the entire re-marking process. We do not believe that the process takes place in a manner which is fair and reasonable towards the learners.

These matters are extremely serious and of great concern, not only to the affected learners, but also to the total parent community who are demanding immediate action.

Your urgent reply would be appreciated.

Yours faithfully

____________________________
G E NURCOMBE-THORNE
CHAIRMAN GOVERNING BODY

ANNEXURE:

A few of the affected learners and their examination numbers: