PARYS, Free State – Profound shock and concerns have been expressed following reports that five learners at the Boitlamo Secondary School in Parys were allegedly prevented from writing their matriculation History examination on Thursday, 30 October.
Intervention secures access for one student
According to reports, one learner contacted his family after being denied entry to the examination venue. His mother immediately travelled to the school and insisted that her child be permitted to write the examination. The principal ultimately granted permission for the learner to sit the paper.
However, four other learners were not afforded the same opportunity, and the reasons for their exclusion remain unclear, raising serious questions about the school’s examination administration procedures.
Pattern of examination exclusions
This incident follows a similar occurrence earlier in the week on Monday, 27 October 2024, when four Accounting learners reportedly did not write their examination. These repeated cases raise grave concerns about management practices, communication protocols, and examination administration at the institution.
Constitutional rights under threat
The DA condemns any actions that jeopardise learners’ constitutional right to education. “Our youth represent the future of this country, and every lost opportunity today weakens the South Africa of tomorrow,” the party stated. “No learner should ever be unfairly prevented from writing their final examinations under any circumstances,” said Cllr. Carina Serfontein, DA Councillor Ngwathe Municipality
DA response and action plan
The DA in Ngwathe has committed to a comprehensive response to address this situation:
• Submit formal written questions to the Free State Department of Education
• Request a full and urgent investigation into the circumstances that led to these learners being excluded
• Demand clarity and accountability from school management, district officials, and the Fezile Dabi District Education Office
• Monitor the situation to ensure that affected learners are provided with opportunities to rewrite examinations where applicable
Provincial escalation
The matter has been formally escalated to the DA in the Free State Provincial Legislature for additional oversight and engagement with the MEC for Education, ensuring that the issue receives appropriate attention at the highest levels of provincial government.
Ongoing commitment
The DA has pledged to continue monitoring this matter closely to ensure that accountability is enforced and that every learner’s right to fair and equal access to education is upheld.
The party emphasised that such incidents undermine the integrity of the national examination system and potentially compromise the future prospects of affected students at this critical juncture in their academic careers.
ALSO READ: Maynier urges matrics to take exam rules seriously ahead of finals
You must be logged in to post a comment.