The country's matric pass rate has been given a boost as some provinces allegedly encouraged teachers to ensure a 100% pass rate in life orientation, the only non-exam subject.
Despite several provincial education departments vehemently denying that they issued such a directive this week, at least one senior government official and teachers in several provinces confirmed having been "unofficially" instructed to do this.
The Sunday Times has established that Mpumalanga, Free State and North West had recorded no failures in the subject, based on provisional results, while Gauteng and Northern Cape are also expected to have a pass rate of more than 98% in the subject, according to senior department officials.
Academics and a teachers' union have expressed fears that the results could impact on this year's overall pass rate.
A compulsory subject at government schools, life orientation covers skills, knowledge, values and attitudes about oneself, the environment, responsible citizenship, a healthy and productive life, social engagement, recreation and physical activity and career choices.
It is the only subject pupils did not need to stress over for the exams as it is marked by individual schools based on work done over the whole year.
The country's 585474 matrics are allowed to fail one subject provided they pass three subjects with a minimum of 30% and three others with at least 40%.
If the life orientation pass is guaranteed, a pupil can fail any one of their other subjects - including maths but with the exception of their home language - and still pass.
Ezra Ramasehla, president of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA, said: "How genuine could these results be if we had a 100% pass rate (in some provinces)?
"I would expect that if provinces have a 100% pass, it is likely to have a huge impact on the overall matric pass rate."
A pass in life orientation is generally not a prerequisite for university admission, although some universities insist that pupils achieve at least 50%.
Pupils need between 50% and 59% in life orientation to study at the University of Pretoria, while those wanting to study commerce at the University of Cape Town need at least 60%.
Professor Sarah Gravett, dean of education at the University of Johannesburg, said the quality of teaching in the subject would have to be questioned if some provinces had in fact achieved a 100% pass rate.
Thandi Sono, headmistress of Sophungane Combined School in Mpumalanga, said she had heard of teachers being told not to fail pupils.
"But that hasn't bothered us as we pass pupils on merit," she said.
The co-ordinators for life orientation in North West and Free State confirmed that their provinces had recorded 100% pass rates in the subject.
