An assessment of vulnerabilities to mitigate the leakage of Grade 12 examination question papers : case study of Mbombela Municipality in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Abstract

Examinee impersonation at exam centres, bribery, and the unlawful purchase and sale of Grade 12 exam papers to minors are among the main issues that the government and interested parties are concerned about. This study examined the reasons for question paper leaks for the Grade 12 exam. The study demonstrates the continuous concerns about exam fraud. The study's findings demonstrate the variety and ongoing evolution of the cheating techniques found. Furthermore, this study aimed to evaluate current vulnerabilities and pinpoint risk factors in order to reduce the possibility of Grade 12 exam question papers leaking in the Mbombela Municipality of Mpumalanga Province South Africa. A qualitative case study was used in the research, which was ideal for investigations into intricate social phenomena. Fifteen (15) participants took part in the study. Focus groups and one-on-one interviews using semi-structured interview schedules to gather verbal and written responses were used to gather data for this study. The investigation revealed the following: • Leakage of examination question papers occur during printing and packaging. • There is insufficient oversight, simultaneous printing of several papers, and simultaneous packaging of multiple exam papers. • When question papers are being sent to districts, circuit offices, and schools, two question papers are transported: one for the morning and one for the afternoon. The recommendations include: • The Department ought to refrain from printing several questions papers concurrently. • Question papers, such as Mathematics papers 1 and 2, should be delivered individually and not together. • Question sheets should be sent out twice a day, right before the exam begins.