Matrics are handed wrong English exam papers at local high school
Five matric students from Hoërskool Hugenote are worried about their immediate future after writing the wrong English exam on November 25.
Annerie Smit (18), one of the students, explains how their exam paper was taken from them two hours into the exam.
“When they handed out the papers at the beginning of the exam, I glanced at the person in front of me to see if I had the same paper as they did and I did, so I started writing,” she says.
Two hours later, the five students’ papers were taken and they were handed new English papers and were allegedly told they had half-an-hour left to finish.
“It turns out they handed us the wrong papers as we wrote English home language instead of first additional language.”
She adds that 10 minutes later, their papers were again taken from them and they were handed the first papers they started writing and had to finish with those.
“Afterwards, we had to sign a form which states that we have to rewrite the exam in February.”
Annerie’s father, Jeremy ‘JJ’ Smit, says this is a major irregularity as he knows the rules of exams, being a teacher at Olympia School.
“To take away their exam papers when the exam is almost done and returning it again afterwards is a major irregularity,” he says.
He states that the invigilator was supposed to go through the exam papers with the children, starting at the top word and last word of every page.
“The person told me he did this, but my question is then, why did five children who are sitting behind each other in the same row, not realise this? What are her final results on her report card going to show?”
Annerie is concerned that she will not be able to study next year or get employment as her final English result will be incomplete.
Phumla Sekhonyane, spokesman for the Gauteng Department of Education, says the department is aware of the incident.
“The matter was recorded as a technical irregularity and was immediately reported to the National Department of Education and Umalusi,” she says.
Sekhonyane adds that the regulations pertaining to the conduct and administration management of the National Senior Certificate makes provisions for learners who are affected in this way not to be disadvantaged.
“In the case of the five affected learners, the relevant prescript will be applied,” she concludes.
Hoërskool Hugenote could not be reached for comment at the time of publishing.
