Education department faces scrutiny over delayed sanctions for errant teachers

TEACHERS and a school principal accused of irregularities during Grade 12 examinations more than a year ago are yet to face sanctions from the Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal.

- THAMI MAGUBANE [e-mail]

The Mercury understands that the irregularities relate to "negligence or allowing copying" during the NSC examination.

Members of the Education Portfolio Committee were recently briefed on this and other serious allegations of misconduct by the department's staff.

Two cases were detailed that the committee members found concerning. One involved the NSC irregularities that implicated teachers and the principal, while the other concerned a department official who had signed off on a project to trigger payment despite the project being flagged for poor workmanship.

The payment was not made, and the official, although facing an investigation on the matter, is now working in another section of the department, something committee members found distasteful. They stated that the employee should not be on the department premises after such conduct.

Regarding the NSC allegations, the department revealed that learners implicated in the allegations have been sanctioned, but it is having difficulty dealing with teachers, as they “have tricks" that prolong action against them.