DBE Suspends Staff After Internal Leak Exposes NSC Exam Breach

Employees from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) have been suspended following the discovery of an examination breach during the marking of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC).

The breach was detected through the department's internal monitoring and oversight systems, which picked up that the information was lifted via the use of a USB, at the entity's own offices.

During a media briefing session yesterday, Minister Gwarube confirmed the breach and that two of their employees were suspended and the matter was being handled by the SAPS.

“It is through the markers’ diligence that we were able to detect a breach in our exam. This morning, I want to inform the country that our systems have worked exactly in the way they were designed to do: to detect, to isolate, to investigate, and to address any manipulation of the NSC examination,” said Gwarube.

The minister explained that South Africa’s multi-layered, quality-controlled marking system played a significant role in detecting the anomaly.

Their vetting systems, which included the appointment of expert markers based on strict criteria, the development of detailed marking guidelines, hosting marking standardisation meetings, training and authorisation of markers, moderation across subjects, compliance with a marking tolerance range, and rigorous checks, ensured consistency and accuracy.

“It is this robust system that enabled us to detect an anomaly in six scripts in Gauteng. Our well-trained markers were able to pick up an irregularity and escalated the issue to the relevant officials.”

Gwarube said the Basic Education Department was alerted on December 2 to the unusual similarity between learners’ answers, and those in the marking guideline for the English Home Language Paper 2.

This triggered a deeper investigation, which revealed that several key exam papers, including English Home Language Papers 1, 2, and 3, Mathematics Papers 1 and 2, and Physical Science Papers 1 and 2, were accessed prior to the exam date. 

These papers had been circulated via a USB storage device, she said.

She further explained that the breach was not uncovered through rumours, but through their markers whose training included investigative marking and they were equipped to distinguish between authentic learner responses and content that should only be accessible to markers.

Gwarube also confirmed that the source of the leak was traced to the DBE’s own offices, where the exam papers were set.

The suspected employee, who had access to the materials, allegedly shared them with another DBE staff member working in the examination unit, she said.

“Of the 162 papers set for the 2025 NSC exams, seven were accessed before the examination date,” she said.

While the breach was localised to a specific area in Pretoria, Gwarube said there was no evidence to suggest it had spread beyond these seven schools.

The investigation, which involved interviews with 26 learners whose scripts were flagged, confirmed that these students had prior access to the exam papers and the marking guidelines.

Gwarube said the DBE has suspended the implicated employees and referred the matter to the South African Police Service for further investigation.

She highlighted the criminal aspects of the case, noting that the possession of state material without proper authorisation is a criminal offence.

“We follow a zero-tolerance approach to cheating in the NSC exams. This breach is not just an internal DBE issue but also a criminal matter, and we have reported it to the South African Police Service,” she said.

DAILY NEWS