A FOLWENI matric learner faces an uncertain future after allegedly being turned away from her National Senior Certificate (NSC) accounting examination on October 22.

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The learner’s mother, who will not be named to protect the child’s identity, said the daughter goes to Ntwenhle High School. The mother said that on the day of the exam, her daughter came home crying after the school’s principal apparently prevented her and a few other learners from taking the examination, saying they could cause the school’s pass percentage to drop.

“She had spent the whole night studying in preparation for her final NSC paper, but she and a few other learners were prevented from sitting for the subject because the school wants a 100% pass rate. The principal never called us as parents; he took this decision alone, and this is not fair. Our children have a right to write. We pay for them to go to school for 12 years for this final exam,” said the mother.

While the learner was allowed to sit for other subjects, the mother said the child has been affected mentally by the school’s decision.

“She came home crying, and she is traumatised,” she said.

It has since emerged, however, that several schools in the province have also prevented certain learners from writing examinations because they risk dropping their school’s pass rate. KZN Department of Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka condemned the alleged incidents, stressing that no learner should be denied the opportunity to write an examination.

“The denial of an opportunity to write an examination is a serious matter that cannot be taken lightly. No learner should be made to feel that their future is at risk because they did not attend an extra class or because they may not achieve a distinction. Every learner deserves a fair opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities during examinations,” said Hlomuka.

He confirmed that the department will conduct investigations into all the reported incidents to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegations and determine the appropriate action to be taken.

The child’s mother said the school has not contacted her to discuss the incident, but the Department of Education has taken her statement.

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