Fifty former matric pupils in Limpopo accused of group copying during the 2024 National Senior Certificate examinations have been cleared and will now receive their results.
The Department of Basic Education had withheld the learners’ results after identifying similarities in their answers for Business Studies Paper 1 and Economics Paper 2.
The learners denied cheating, arguing that the similarities were linked to teaching methods used at their under-resourced school.
They told the court that, because of a shortage of textbooks, teachers relied heavily on repetition, singing and recitation to help learners retain information.
The Limpopo High Court has now ruled in favour of the 50 learners, clearing the way for them to receive their results and pursue further studies.
The court found that the official who adopted and communicated the guilty finding against the learners did not have the legal authority to make the decision.
The case was supported by human rights organisation Section27, which says the withholding of the learners’ results had significant consequences for their education and future employment opportunities.
Section27’s Thato Gefane says the Education Department and those responsible for the decision must be held accountable.
“The past two years have been quite difficult emotionally and psychologically on these learners,” Gefane says.
He says the learners lost opportunities to further their education and seek employment while their results remained withheld.
“There are lost opportunities for education, opportunities for employment and their own well-being,” he says.
Gefane says the impact of the decision cannot simply be undone, despite the court ruling clearing the learners.
The court judgment now paves the way for the former pupils to receive their long-awaited matric results and continue with their education and career plans.