45 000 matrics now 'official'
2005-07-06 16:17
Nelspruit - The Mpumalanga education department will issue matric certificates next week to 45 213 pupils who wrote their final Grade 12 exams last year.
Thomas Msiza of the education department said on Wednesday that 37 878 full-time candidates and 7 335 part-time candidates received their results in January, but were still waiting for their certificates.
"We now have to decide how to distribute them, because schools are still closed for the holidays," he said.
"We'll make a public announcement as to how the certificates can be collected."
He said the certificates did not include those of 843 pupils implicated in 2004 matric exam scandal.
"The 843 candidates who cheated will be given a last chance to rewrite their exams in October," said Msiza.
Msiza said Mpumalanga had a 61.8% matric pass rate in 2004, which was a 3.8% increase from 2003, when it achieved a 58% pass rate.
Meanwhile, disciplinary procedures are in progress against the 61 teachers who helped the pupils cheat at 11 examination centres.
The irregularities were picked up when whistleblowers alerted the education quality body, Umalusi, of the cheating.