The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) says it is aware of a video circulating that alleges that a learner at “Golden Gates High School” was caught cheating in their matric exam.

The department says no school of this name exists in the Western Cape, and the video is entirely fake. The social media user who posted the video has since made subsequent videos explaining that it is some type of parody video. But, according to the WCED, the damage has already been done.

A Grade 12 learner from the Golden Gates High School was found cheating while writing an English Paper 3 exam, she was allegedly using AI. pic.twitter.com/1uPcUqRQEq

— COMZ (@c_omzzz) October 21, 2024

In a statement, Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier said that Deliberate fake news of this kind is extremely damaging and falsely creates doubt in the integrity of the National Senior Certificate exam process. Maynier added that such “jokes” add to the anxiety of matrics at a time when they need to focus on their exams.

@dramaticluna1 Exams do not work. #teacher #teachersoftiktok #goldengateshighschool #goldengatesforyou #goldengatesforme #goldengatesforusall #matric #fyp ♬ original sound – Luna | Education Changemaker

“We appeal to everyone in the Western Cape to avoid posting or sharing fake news regarding the exams.”

Maynier says pranks of this nature waste officials’ time when they need to be focused on more important tasks like administering the exams,

“- it causes unnecessary panic amongst learners and parents.”

The minister says both the department and the province’s top priority during the exam period must be the well-being of matrics learners so that they are in the best possible headspace when they write each exam.

“It is the responsibility of each one of us, especially adults, to support our matrics in the Western Cape.”

A total of 75 647 candidates are writing the matric exams this year in the province. Of these, 64 375 are full-time candidates, and 11 272 are part-time candidates. According to the department, it has 270 more full-time candidates writing this year compared to last year.

On Monday morning, nearly 67,000 candidates wrote their first exam, English Paper 3, and the WCED says it went by “smoothly”.

Maynier says this is a testament to the thorough preparation of school staff and officials in the run-up to the exams.

“Let’s all continue to make our matrics the VIPs of our province during the exams and support them in every way we can.”

READ MORE: Smooth sailing for the start of matric exams in the Western Cape