Basic Education to appeal ruling clearing learners of group copying

The Department of Basic Education says it has filed an application for leave to appeal the ruling of the Polokwane High Court that exonerated 50 learners from group copying as it believes crucial information was not considered during the ruling.

Fifty former matric learners from Baphutheng Secondary School outside Polokwane in Limpopo were found guilty of group copying by the department but have since been cleared by the court.

The department has withheld their matric results for nearly two years.

The high court has ordered that the department releases their matric results and set aside the decision that found them guilty.

Chief Director of the National Examinations and Assessments, Priscilla Ogunbanjo, says they will await the decision of the appeal court.

“There are a number of issues with regards to things may not have been taken into consideration.

You will note that right from the beginning, the MEC had been appealed to initially and she appealed the sanctions and then it was taken to court.

The department still has information that we believe has not yet been completely considered and that is why the department has launched this application already last week.” -Report by Avhapfani Munyai