The school principal of J E Ndlovu Secondary School in KwaMashu north of Durban has been suspended with immediate effect as the chief invigilator after exam monitors detected a serious examination irregularity at the school on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, 27 October 2010, exam monitors visited the school as part of a routine monitoring and security plan.
Upon arrival at the school, the officials found 14 candidates who were writing the History P1 examination. However, the monitoring team discovered that the school principal had collected 20 question papers at the collection point. The number of question paper collected by the Principal did not tally with the number of candidates at the school. He was then requested to handover the extra copies (6) to the monitors. Initially he handed over five question papers and upon further interrogation, he handed over the one question paper, which was in his office. The answers were written on the paper.
An urgent meeting was then convened and was attended by the school principal, district officials and senior provincial examination officials. The principal acknowledged that he knew that he could not take away the question paper outside of the writing room while the examination was underway; let alone provide answers to it. He subsequently confessed to an irregular act in terms of the policy.
The district office has taken over the administration of the examination at J E Ndlovu Secondary School and a deputy principal from another school will be appointed to manage the examination at the school. We will continue to apply a zero tolerate approve to such misconduct during these examinations and this must send a strong warning to everyone that we will deal harshly with any individual found guilty of committing an irregular act.
Note to editor: The suspension of the School Principal at J E Ndlovu Secondary School only applies in respect of his duties as chief invigilator.
For more information contact:
Mbali Thusi
Cell: 082 881 7484
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Education
