Kimberley – The Northern Cape has been ordered to compensate a teacher fired for refusing to alter a pupil’s marks, the education department said on Thursday.

“Indeed, as the department, we have received the award regarding this case,” provincial spokesman Sydney Stander said.

According to a statement by Solidarity, the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) ruled that the department had to pay maths and science teacher, Arlene Nel, compensation for her unfair dismissal.

The former Hoërskool Kakamas teacher was dismissed in January by the school’s principal via a text message after she allegedly refused to tamper with his son’s marks, the statement said.

“Her dismissal followed shortly after the principal had asked her to adjust his Grade 11 son’s marks for life sciences (biology) so he could pass,” spokeswoman Moira-Marie Kloppers said.

Nel had taught at the school since January 2012 and her contract was not renewed.

“The ELRC found that the incident indeed impacted on the fact that Nel’s contract with the school was not renewed,” Kloppers said.

Stander said the department was looking into the matter and would decide on a course of action. – Sapa