Pretoria - The Department of Higher Education and Training is to assign a team of selected markers to scrutinise the examination scripts and the extent of the examination leak at the Mpumalanga Further Education and Training (FET) College.
On Wednesday, at least five lecturers and eight students were arrested after being caught with question papers for subjects that students were sitting for an examination at a provincial FET college.
Acting on a tip-off, the South African Police Services swooped the college where candidates were said to be writing examinations in back rooms. Police found two students writing the examination for themselves as well as four other candidates that were not even at the venue.
The students led the police to other venues where the same thing was happening.
They proceeded to confiscate all writing material found at the venues.
Initial investigations indicated that the students got the question papers from some members of the college staff.
A further search of vehicles belonging to the college staff allegedly involved in the leak led to a further confiscation of question papers, blank and already answered answer books on the seats, bags and envelopes inside the cars and in the boots.
Four of the eight students arrested have since agreed to turn state witnesses.
A disappointed Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, said it was totally unacceptable that staff would also be involved in such a cruel scam which compromises the future of poor children, their employment prospects as well as our economy.
"Our collaboration with the law enforcement agencies will lead to even more arrests where such incidents are found to be happening. A notice has also been sent to all marking centres to be extra vigilant of trends in answers given by candidates in all the subjects written for the examinations that were written yesterday," said Nzimande.
He applauded the SAPS' quick response to examinations leakage.
Subjects that were written on Wednesday included:
- Industrial Organisation and Planning N3
- Building and Structural Construction N4
- Building Drawing N3
- Power Machine N6
- Engineering Science N4
- Engineering Science N2
- Building and Structural Construction N6
- SAnews.gov.za
