[ad_1]
- Sadtu and Naptosa have welcomed the High Court’s decision that parents do not have to rewrite two leaked final documents.
- They also hope there is no rush to appeal the sentence.
- But the education department is studying the lawsuit.
Matric students have been saved from a ‘grave injustice’, said the Union of Democratic Teachers of SA (Sadtu) and the National Organization of Professional Teachers of SA (Naptosa) after a judgment that matrics do not have to rewrite two jobs filtered endings.
“Sanity prevailed” in the court ruling that struck down the requirement that matrices should rewrite the Math II and Physical Science II exams, after the discovery they had been leaked, Naptosa said.
According to Naptosa, the decision to have everyone rewrite those topics was an overreaction. He praised the court for its “serious consideration of the facts.”
However, the union hoped there would be no rush to appeal.
“We ask that you accept the sentence and rather spend your energy in bringing those responsible for the leaks to justice and leave it to the Irregularities Committee to deal with the matter,” Naptosa said.
READ | Matrics won’t have to rewrite leaked exams, court rules
The union also appealed to Umalusi to accept the ruling and not allow the “limited” leaks to cloud its decision to certify the integrity of the 2020 senior national certificate (NSC) exams.
Sadtu felt it would have been unfair to have the students rewrite because the investigation was not over.
“Based on initial research showing that the number of students who may have seen the article is less than 195 out of the 339,000 who wrote the math article, which translates to less than 0.06% and an even lower percentage with Regarding the physical science document, there was no basis for a national rewrite, “Sadtu said in a statement.
“Our children are tired and need to be protected from any trauma that may have long-term psychological effects. We urge students to focus on the latest topics, rest, and recharge as they prepare to continue their studies at educational institutions. higher education next year. “
Sadtu urged commentators and analysts to be fair and inspire students, rather than question their future.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Office asked the Department of Basic Education to respect the court’s decision to avoid further delays and interruptions in the 2020 academic year.
The opposition party said it was surprised that in court documents, the education department could not say who was responsible for the decision.
In his opinion, the investigation into the origin of the leak was not adequate.
“This issue should have been addressed immediately after the leak was identified. Had it been, more leaks could have been prevented and the scope could have been better identified, which could have avoided the need for a national rewrite.”
He has urged the department to work with quality insurer Umalusi to ensure that the integrity of the NSC 2020 is protected.
Following a brief investigation, a preliminary report on the leaks, and an ultimatum from Umalusi saying she would not acknowledge the results of the two documents if they were not rewritten, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced that the two exams should be re-run. .
The announcement left the students devastated. Many had already turned in their textbooks, disposed of their notes, or traveled with relatives who lived far from their schools for longer than usual vacations.
The minister’s decision gave rise to litigation. Several students, the South African Union of Democratic Teachers and the AfriForum lobby group approached the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to overturn the decision.
On Friday, Judge Norman Davis ruled that the decision to have the tuition students rewrite the exams was illegal, and found that the minister was not authorized to make such a call.
The department’s spokesman, Elijah Mhlanga, later tweeted that the department was studying the sentence.
Meanwhile, a man who worked for a company that was hired to print the exams was arrested in the course of the leak investigation. Themba Daniel Shikwambana appeared in court in connection with the Mathematics II leak and was released on bail.
He will return to court on January 27.
