Outrage at rewriting of exam
2007-11-08
David Joshua
“THIS is an outrage and completely unfair to hundreds of matrics who are now forced to rewrite their English Literature paper, when all other matrics have finished,” says a very disgruntled parent of one of the 30 learners affected at New Orleans Secondary School in Paarl.
Matric candidates with English as first language have to rewrite the paper, following an incident at the South African College High School (SACS) on 10 October.
The incorrect paper was handed to some of the candidates, and a leak of the content to other candidates is suspected. After a WCED investigation of the incident it was found that the leak had compromised the integrity of the examination.
“The School Governing Body and I fear that this scenario will have a demoralising effect on learners and on their further performance in the remaining exams,” says New Orleans Secondary principal, Dennis von Willingh.
“I understand the feelings of my parents because innocent candidates are affected. But I don’t see that we have much of a choice, for the integrity of the examination is at stake. We are handling the situation according to departemental prescriptions.”
A substitute paper is to be written at 09:00 on 23 November at venues where candidates sat for the initial paper.
"The date is the first available day after the final paper on the matric examination timetable,” said Paddy Attwell, Director of Communication at WCED.
According to Attwell, the examination cannot be held earlier because there is no other time available during the examination period that would suit all candidates who have to rewrite the paper concerned.
Being a provincial examination, the impact to rewrite is limited to the Western Cape.
At Noorder Paarl High School only nine candidates have to rewrite, but all the necessary requirements need to be met.
“What I cannot understand is how such a mistake could be made.
Every year the principal and head invigilator must attend the compulsory examination training, after which we receive certificates," says principal Mirinthia Maasdorp.
“Invigilators are therefore fully informed on how to handle the examination, and at least three people must make sure and sign that the correct paper is handed out.”
At Gymnasium High 90 matrics are affected and at La Rochelle 82, many of whom wept from pure frustration at the impact of the extended examination.
At Paarl Girls' High 37 matrics will now have to rewrite.
“Of course all of them are dissatisfied, however we take precautions for these kinds of unforeseen circumstances,” said Basjan Reinhardt, principal at Gymnasium.
“For good order we informed our matrics beforehand to be available until 30 November. It's actually surprising that this has never happened before, but there’s always a first time,” Reinhardt said.
At Huguenot High in Wellington 60 matrics have to rewrite. Principal Wessel Moolman says that matrics are very disappointed.
For two of them, rewriting can become a costly affair, for they have already booked and paid for air tickets for holidays overseas, leaving on the day they were to conclude their exams. This will have to be cancelled.
Said one candidate, “The positive side of rewriting is that some will get a second chance to improve on their marks if they did not do well first time round.
“The integrity of the exams is more important and we received ample warning to be available for exams till the end.
“But some students have problems because they have thrown away their study notes on the prescribed books.”
The WCED has informed the national Department of Education of the decision, and has terminated the contract of the Chief Invigilator at SACS.
They issued a verbal warning to the Head of the English Department at the school and are still investigating the role of the principal, who is the accountable Examinations Officer at the school.
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