SECTION27 challenges withholding of matric results affecting 50 learners

SECTION27 has launched legal action in the Limpopo High Court on behalf of 50 former Baphutheng Senior Secondary School learners, challenging the withholding of their 2024 matric results after being found guilty of “group copying” in Business Studies Paper 1 and Economics Paper 2.

- MASABATA MKWANANZI

According to Patience Phiri, spokesperson for SECTION27, the decisions taken by the acting head of department and upheld by the MEC for Education in Limpopo have left the learners' results withheld for more than a year, putting their education, job opportunities, and future plans on hold.

“The allegation against the learners is based solely on the fact that their examination answers were similar. The Limpopo Department of Education (LDoE) has not furnished any evidence of cheating or group copying.”

She added that no learner was found with unauthorised material, there was no evidence of communication or coordination during the exams, and invigilators confirmed that the examinations were conducted without any irregularities.

Phiri explained that what the department has labelled as “group copying” is in fact the result of teaching and learning methods adapted to the realities of an under-resourced school.