Matric results will be published

The department of basic education has extended the deadline for media houses to be accredited to publish matric results following a meeting with the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef).

“We met them today and they apologised for not meeting the required deadline (for accreditation) and we have since agreed to a new deadline,” basic education spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi said.

The deadline, initially set for September 30, was extended to October 26.

Lesufi said his department would be meeting the Young Communist League (YCL) in the coming week to address its concerns about the impact of publishing matric results in newspapers.

Buti Manamela, YCL national secretary, said matric results were a private matter that should not be published in newspapers.

“Why publish matric results? Why must we embarrass thousands, millions of young South Africans so they can become the laughing stock in townships?” Manamela said.

Earlier, the department said the practice of publishing matric results in the newspapers had become part of the South African tradition.

“The original reason for this practice is to assist learners who are on vacation away from their homes and are unable to get to their respective schools to collect their results,” Lesufi said.

» Over 622 000 matriculants would be sitting for their examinations this year with 512 000 being full-time students.

- City Press