Publication of matric results needs to be changed: IR

The Information Regulator (IR) has urged the Department of Basic Education to implement a system in the near future that will allow consent to disclose matric results.

The body has directed the department not to publish the results of this year’s matriculants in newspapers without consent from parents.

This after it conducted an assessment to determine whether the publication of matric results is in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act.

Information Regulator Chairperson Pansy Tlakula says, “They can publish provided that they obtain the consent of the parents or guardians. We looked at other legal bases for publishing matric results. For instance, the act says you can publish without obtaining consent of the parents if you can prove that the publication is in compliance with a public obligation imposed on you by public laws. Now we looked, we did not find any law which obliged them to publish matric results.”