Matrics confess to cheating and rat on teachers who helped

We are guilty of cheating.

This was the confession from a "significant number" of matriculants who have admitted to group copying in last year's final exams, the Department of Basic Education said yesterday.

It was revealed in January that matriculants at 58 examination centres in Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal had cheated.

Answers and multiple-choice sections were so similar they aroused suspicion. Even spelling errors and incorrect answers were given by multiple pupils.

It was claimed that invigilators, including teachers and headmasters, had read out answers at the exam venues for pupils to write down.

Since the revelations, the department launched an investigation into the scandal and conducted hearings in all affected regions.

Spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said yesterday that the investigation was completed at half of the regions in Eastern Cape and were also under way in KZN.

"We have received confessions from a significant number of learners who have indicated that they were assisted by adults or by their teachers and principals.

"The department has indicated that honesty will be considered as a positive mitigating factor, and we would encourage learners who have information to confess," said Mhlanga.

He added that leniency would be given to pupils but not to adults who had assisted in the cheating.

"Principals, teachers and invigilators implicated will face full disciplinary action as they should be more responsible and set a positive example for those entrusted in their tutorship," said Mhlanga.