Minister of basic education Angie Motshekga at the 2023 matric results announcement on Thursday, 19 January. Thousands of learners who wrote under the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) have signed a petition calling for an investigation into their results. [Picture: Kamogelo Moichela/IOL]
Just over 2 000 matriculants who wrote their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams with the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) are seeking an investigation into the results for the Class of 2023. They further accuse the institute of running a money-making scheme at the expense of learners.
On Wednesday, the private assessment body – which administers the NSC exams for online schools and distance learning providers – released results for students who sat for the final high school exam between October and November.
The body recorded an overall pass rate of 72%, much lower than those of the Independent Assessment Body (IEB) – 98.46% – and the department of education (DBE) – 82.9%.
Many were displeased with their results, noting drastically reduced results compared to the September preliminary exam.
“I was satisfied with the way SACAI administered the exams,” said Thabisa Biyela (19), a student from the University of Cape Town Online High School (UCT-OHS). But, she said, “I am not happy with the way they administered the results. I wish they could have done a better job.”
Biyela, like many others in this cohort, said they did not recognise the results that showed up when they accessed the portal on Wednesday. “Those are not my marks; those are not my final marks,” she said.
Thalia Sotiralis (18), a student at Synaptic College, Johannesburg, also noticed a sharp drop in her mark until it was queried. Upon querying it with her school and SACAI, her Life Orientation mark jumped from a mere 45% to 82% – after much wrangling.
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‘Money-making scheme’
Although it has been widely speculated that SACAI applies a strict marking method, pupils who were discontent with their results lamented the exorbitant costs for rewrites and remarks.
Another student, from the same school, alleged that SACAI was simply a “money-making scheme”.
“Some people are complaining that the way they mark is too strict and I fully agree with that,” said Lithe-thaa Cokoto (18). “The fact that we get our results and we want to get a remark, it’s too costly… We recently paid R12 000 to write these exams and now, when we want to get a remark, it’s R300 going up and that is per subject.”
In a letter to parents, SACAI, via accredited schools, indicated that learners would be afforded the options to request a remark or register to sit for the June examination, among others. It quoted R590.50 for remarks, while the prices for rewrites were R2 091.77 (practical and language subjects) and R1 813.75 (other subjects).
A dismayed Cokoto, who hoped to study towards a Bachelor of Social Sciences at Rhodes University as soon as the 2024 academic year kicked off, said the fiasco dampened what should have been a momentous occasion.
“Completing matric is a huge milestone for me as an individual because it is the beginning of my journey. It is the beginning of everything that I’ve planned from the age of 12. Now that I’ve completed it, there will be a minor setback, but I’ve just got to keep pushing it and trying to reach the top of my milestone. A lot of us students can relate that it was a shocking matter,” she said.
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Petition to SACAI
Taking their cue from the class of 2021, the latest cohort of matriculants have set up a petition urging an investigation into alleged “irregularities” in processing of the 2023 results. In just two days, the petition garnered 1 795 signatures.
“We, the parents and Matric Class of 2023, are deeply concerned about the suspected irregularities within the marking and capturing process of the recent SACAI Matric Results,” reads the opening lines of the petition.
“We believe in the importance of a fair and transparent assessment system for our students, who have worked tirelessly throughout their academic journey,” they added.
The parents and students demanded an “immediate and thorough investigation into these potential irregularities”, urging relevant authorities to “take this matter seriously and ensure that the integrity of our education system is upheld”.
Sameeha Bhayat (18), from Mpumalanga, had aspirations to study at the University of Johannesburg. Although she was content with the way SACAI administered the important exam, she was “dissatisfied with the marking of our scripts and the inconsistency in our results between prelims and finals”.
Juandi Botha (18) shared a similar sentiment. A Teneo student from Durban who wished to become a teacher, she was caught aback by how “strict the marking was”, but did not want to get involved in the petition.
“I remember they told us that prelims were harder than the finals; oddly I did better in the prelims. In a matter, I understand why they marked so strictly because the expectations of SACAI are much higher,” she said.
Salaamedia understands the aggrieved parents and students are in ongoing engagements with their respective schools and SACAI. Some have also opted to seek assistance from NGO AfriForum’s youth wing, AfriForum Jeug. SACAI had not responded to our request for comment by the time of publication.
