Bridget Mabanda
Stakeholders in the education sector and parents of exam candidates say integrity of the whole Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council 2022 O Level examinations is now questionable after the leak of three out of three papers written so far.
“Credibility of the ZIMSEC board is now in tatters. There is a clear lack of professionalism. We want all children to write examinations which haven’t been leaked so that we measure their real potential,” said Progressive Teachers Union president, Takavafira Zhou.
An as yet unverified police memo leaked into the public domain also calls for action to be taken at the council as leakages are widespread and coming from Zimsec Harare offices
“It appears this year’s ZIMSEC examinations are seriously leaked and it appears the source is in Harare and chances are high that the leakages are from ZIMSEC offices in Harare. Action should be taken on ZIMSEC head offices where the soft copies originate,” reads the memo.
Zimsec spokesperson Nicky Dhlamini has declined to comment on the memo saying it is not a verified document.
“As Government schools we do not condone such behaviour. The integrity of our exams is sacrosanct and needs to be protected. …We want this issue to be dealt with expeditiously,” said Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Director Of Communications and Advocacy Mr Taungana Ndoro.
“… the problem is not at schools. I think it is emanating from Zimsec and they need to tighten their security to avoid the leakages…... It is bad and it needs to end,” National Association of Secondary Heads chair Mr Arthur Maphosa said.
“We need to protect the credibility of our education system. Zimsec needs to tighten their security system for the integrity of our examinations,” said National Association of Primary Heads chair Mrs Cynthia Khumalo
Some Zimsec exam leaks in the past years have been tracked to the printing press in Norton with a number of arrests and convictions effected.
This year’s leaks are digital with adverts on social media saying all the exam papers available for ZWL$10 000 by electronic transfer.
http://https://zimbabwenow.co.zw/articles/668/exam-paper-seller-posts-exam-in-progress-on-whatsapp
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed to Zim Now yesterday that police investigations have established that leaks are widespread geographically but said investigations are ongoing and a statement would be issued in due course.
14 students from Seke 5 High in Chitungwiza were questioned at Makoni Police Station on Tuesday. Sources say in Chinhoyi and Bulawayo a number of people have been called into police stations to assist with investigations.
A leak discovered at Pamushana High School in Masvingo was linked to Domboshava and Bikita.
A number of parents with children sitting for this years’ exams called for Zimsec disbandment saying the institution has failed to deliver its mandate.
“It’s clear that Zimsec can no longer run credible exams. Our children will end up with useless pieces of paper that will not be accepted outside the country. 13 years wasted just like that. Government must do something quickly,” said Mrs Juliet Mutambara who said her daughter is a candidate at a mission school in Manicaland.
Mrs Mutambara said it is better for Zimsec to just call off the whole exams right now instead of stressing genuine candidates who have not cheated but will face re-writes of compromised papers.
Other parents said that candidates and parents should seek permission to march and demonstrate at Zimsec’s office so that the council understands the pain of the people whose lives they are trifling with by not protecting the integrity of the exams.
https://zimbabwenow.co.zw/articles/682/another-zimsec-o-level-exam-paper-leaks
Mr Mungosho whose child is in form 4 at Harare day school said that Zimsec must just admit that they have failed and the nation can start fixing things there.
“Their statement telling candidates not to cheat is stupid and shows that they are at the end of their thinking capacity. Of course if a paper is leaked, candidates who get a chance will study it. That’s only human nature.
“The solution is for papers to be secured. Full stop. Students who share leaked papers are the tail end of the problem. What needs fixing are the leaks,” said Mr Mungosho.
Other parents that spoke to Zim Now said the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission should move into Zimsec as a matter of urgency.
ZIMSEC issued a statement on Monday confirming the leak of one exam paper saying they were investigating the extent before determining position on the affected exam.
Two other papers have been confirmed as having been leaked since, making it three out of three compromised exams by Wednesday this week.
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