The Basic Education Department has announced that it is scrapping the publishing of matric results in newspapers and on digital platforms.

Education authorities said that they recognised the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), which came into effect last year in July.

The department said that it respected the right to privacy to protect against unlawful collection, retention, dissemination and use of personal information.

This brings to an end a practice that spanned many years, where the whole country had access to the results of matriculants.

Identity numbers and the exam numbers of pupils were published.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will shed more light when she holds a briefing on school readiness on Tuesday morning.

The 2021 matric results are due to be announced on 20 January.

The matter was taken on review and the results were published in national newspapers.

Submitted by: Cornelius D. Mofokeng.