Question No. 149
Mr GG Boinamo (Democratic Alliance) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
1 Whether it is the policy of her department to accept donations from media houses in exchange for the right to publish matric results one day prior to the official release date; if so, what are the relevant details; if not,
2. Whether she has been informed of certain persons in her department (names and details furnished) who allegedly accepted such donations to make this information available; if so, (a) what action has been taken against these persons and (b) what measures are in place to ensure that the media will be granted equal access to matric results on the same date and time in the future?
Reply:
1. It is not the policy of the Department of Basic Education to accept donations from media houses in exchange for the publication of results in the print and electronic media.
2. However, the Department of Basic Education did explore the option of requesting a voluntary donation from the media houses, with a view to using such funds to establish a bursary fund that could be used to support indigent candidates. However, the concept was shelved in view of the limited time that was available to set up and administer such a fund. This concept will be further explored in the planning of the release of the 2010 results.
Issued by: Department of Basic Education
11 February 2010
Source: Department of Education (http://www.education.gov.za/)
