Dr Naidoo remembered

DISTINGUISHED educationist Dr Morgan Naidoo died last Friday afternoon following a long illness.

Dr Naidoo, who served education for more than 40 years, was regarded as an expert on normalisation processes which aim to ensure objectivity and fairness in exams.

Earlier this year, the National Examinations and Assessment Committee presented an award to Dr Naidoo for his significant contributions to the successful administration of national public exams in South Africa.

Although Dr Naidoo retired at the end of February 2010 after handling the matriculation exam in KwaZulu-Natal since 1976, the award was only made in April this year.

Having started teaching in 1967, he taught for nine years before being promoted into education management.

Dr Naidoo who was the Chief Director: Examinations Assurance and Assessment in KwaZulu-Natal, contributed nationally by setting up the Inter-Provincial Committee on Examinations tasked with establishing common exam practices for the country.

He was chairperson of the Ministerial Committee appointed to investigate and report on the senior certificate exam. The findings led to several changes in examination practices in the country.

Dr Naidoo told me during an interview in October this year that it was an honour to lead the Inter-Provincial Committee on Examinations tasked with coming up with a common exam system for the country.

“As chairman of the committee that oversaw the integration into a common system, I am very grateful to the many provincial and national staff who supported me and went the extra mile so that we attained success.

“Some of the major issues we had to deal with were the integration of 19 examination systems into a single non-racial system; approving setworks and textbooks common to all examinations; setting up infrastructure common to all provinces and systems; and ensuring that the language was understandable to all candidates.

“Finally, examiners and moderators had to be trained to cope with the new processes in examining.”

Dr Naidoo said the integrity of exams was critical to the upholding of education standards.

“Sound examinations ensure that all students are evaluated based on a consistent and standardised set of criteria.

“This fairness is crucial in providing equal opportunities to all learners, regardless of their background or circumstances.

“Credible examinations are essential for ensuring that educational credentials have meaning and value in society.

“They serve as a foundation for a meritocratic and equitable education system.

“The examination system must have in-built credibility and trustworthiness so that the matriculation certificate that is attained will be recognised and accepted internationally,” Dr Naidoo said.

YOGIN DEVAN

Westville

THOSE whom God hath put together, let no man put asunder” is an age-old wedding vow and was once the cornerstone of faithful marriages.

Sadly, the holy matrimonial covenant is being violated daily by people intent on a risk-filled trajectory of lustful adventure.

Marital infidelity is a 21st-century social cancer that is contaminating society. This is just the tip of the iceberg, crystallised from thousands of illicit extramarital affairs.

Who can blame the wife who went on a spree last week on social media sharing pornographic videos of her husband and his “mistress”?

Now she risks being charged under South African law.