A Grade 11 pupil was allegedly thrown out of class, prevented from writing two key exams and forced to spend three school days standing in a foyer after a racism row.

An abandoned generation of matric pupils from poorer schools are going to crash out in their final exams, after being without teachers for weeks, say politicians, educationists and parents.

Prudence Gugu Nkosi's life has been on hold. She has been unable to apply for employment or further her studies since 2008 because her matric results were mixed with someone else's results.

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has urged universities to climb down from their ivory towers and address the reality of the students produced by the schooling system.