The Department of Basic Education faces criticism for its decision to publish matric results in newspapers, despite the lack of names and the availability of results through other channels.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is adamant to publish the 2024 matric results in newspapers after challenging the Information Regulator’s decision that prohibited its publication due to non-compliance with section 11 of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
However, what is overlooked is not whether the DBE is contravening POPIA. but rather whether there is any sound reason for publishing the results in newspapers.
Bearing in mind that matric results are available at schools, or could be sent to matriculants via SMS or accessed via various online platforms such as that of the DBE or provincial education departments. Also newspapers do not provide each subject and the corresponding percentage scored, as was done in the past.
The DBE since 2014 decided to withhold the names of matric pupils and only to publish their examination numbers alongside their matric examination results.
However, what is baffling is why the DBE is continuing to publish the matric results in national newspapers when the names of learners are withheld. This is akin to publishing in a national newspaper the municipal accounts of residents of say, Cape Town but only supplying their account numbers and their respective outstanding balances.
Am I missing something? No one except the resident associated with the account number will know his/her balance.
Similarly, the result of any matriculant will only be looked up and read by that particular person or at least very close family and friends who were granted the learner’s examination number.
Although, this is in line with the objective of the non-disclosure of the names of matriculants, its publication in a national newspaper is not warranted as explained next.
With the removal of names from matric results, the newsworthiness has dropped significantly and now only limited to respective matriculants.
Publishing matric results in newspapers is a waste of paper and of no value to most of the readers of such national newspapers.
Especially, if you take into account that matriculants collect their matric results at their respective schools the day following its announcement.
Since matriculants are already in possession of their matric results before its publication in newspapers, it makes no sense to waste paper and ink by publishing the matric results in national newspapers when it is of no value to the majority of its readers.
Finally, does the DBEs decision make any sense to publish matric results in newspapers? You be the judge.
ADIEL ISMAIL | Mountview
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media or IOL.
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