Matrics: Don’t cheat, rather repeat

“At this stage, you may feel it is the only remaining option, but what you think is the quickest and easiest route may very well destroy your future and have repercussions that will follow you throughout your life,” said Dr Gillian Mooney, Dean: Academic Development and Support at The Independent Institute of Education.

“If you cheat, you risk turning what would have remained a private challenge that could have been overcome within a year or two, into a public scandal that could ruin your reputation for life,” she says.

Mooney says anyone contemplating cheating, or who is approached by someone offering assistance in this regard, should do a quick Google search to see how slim their chances are of getting away with it, and to understand the dire consequences of getting caught.

“Every year, without fail, we hear about scores of matriculants whose results are held back, who face criminal charges, who are banned from writing NSC exams for years, and who spend ages in court as a result of cheating,” she says.

“Quite simply, it is not worth it. Cheating methods have become more sophisticated and no longer fall in the domain of scribbling crib notes on the back of a ruler. If you think your teachers and lecturers are not wise to today’s tricks of the trickery trade, you are quite mistaken.”

She would like to remind everyone, and particularly those who are desperately scared of failing or not achieving the results they require, that the consequences of failing honestly now are infinitely preferable to the consequences of being caught cheating.

“Remember to keep playing the long game by building a solid future on honest results. Even if you do get away with cheating – and the chances are slim that you will – there will still be consequences. You will never be free from the knowledge that your qualification was stolen, not earned.”

Mooney says prospective cheaters should take note that they still have time to put in an extra push, and pull in extra resources to give themselves the best chance of success.

They should also know that – if the worst case scenario of failure did come to pass – an additional year working towards a qualification is better than living with reputational damage.

She also warns innocent learners and students who are not contemplating cheating, to immediately distance themselves from anyone discussing it.

“Do not engage in that kind of conversation with anyone. If you do hear or see it happening, immediately report it,” says Mooney.

“Often cheating happens when a teacher is complicit by, for instance, leaking an exam paper ahead of time. If you have been part of conversations within a group of people who are subsequently busted for cheating, you risk being seen as guilty as well.”

Mooney advises students and learners who recognise that things are not looking good for them at this late stage in the game, to speak to their teacher or lecturer to discuss what can be done.

“There may be an opportunity to take a crash course in a challenging subject, to get a tutor to assist you with your studies, or to work with friends who support and tutor each other. Whatever the options, most teachers will be happy to brainstorm your options with you and assist where possible.”

It should also be remembered that although it might seem catastrophic at this stage, bad results or even failure do not signal the end of one’s dreams of a successful future.

“You may just need to review your options and tweak your plans for the next few years. Although this may seem disappointing at this stage, it may even turn out to be a blessing,” she says.

“If you are able to face up to your situation now and handle it maturely and pragmatically, you will be learning a very important life lesson and grow as a human being, which may just put you on a better path for the future.”

If your marks won’t be good enough to get you into the institution of higher education, university, or course of your choice, it simply means that you either need to write supplementary exams or review your options.

Maybe you need to repeat the year, which will allow you a fresh opportunity to really give it your all and excel beyond what you thought you could do.

“Whichever way it plays out, learners and students should know that there are still so many options open to them to make a success of their lives, even if things are not looking great right now. And all of these options, no matter how you look at it, are better than opting to become an exam cheat.”