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Umalusi warns schools against barring weak pupils from matric exams

Published

Umalusi, the council that quality assures exams, says teachers and principals who stop registered candidates from writing some subjects to lift school results act unlawfully. Its CEO, Mafu Rakometsi, said league tables create unhealthy competition.

Umalusi CEO Mafu Rakometsi said the practice is unlawful. He said principals and district officials are being alerted to the issue.

Rakometsi said: "It does not show the full capacity of the school when you remove the weak pupils from writing, and you allow only the good ones to write". He also said league tables have unintended consequences.

Over a million candidates are sitting the 2026 matric exams. They write at more than 9,000 examination centres nationwide.

Key facts

Who
Umalusi (quality assurance council for exams); Mafu Rakometsi (CEO of Umalusi)
What
Umalusi, the quality assurance council for exams, flagged the practice of teachers and school principals preventing registered candidates from writing matric exams in particular subjects to improve school results. CEO Mafu Rakometsi said this practice is unlawful and that league tables create unhealthy competition. He said principals and district officials are being alerted to the issue.
When
8 October 2026
Where
South Africa
Status
Reported

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