The Sunday Mail
Maxwell Rafomoyo
The leaking of the 2014 Ordinary Level Mathematics and English examination papers in Midlands have put the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry, as well as Zimsec, on the spotlight once more.
The public is irate because this seems to be an unabated annual occurrence. The general public has shown a frowning face on this vice and this is quite understandable and justifiable. Examinations are an exit strategy and are fundamental to opening other avenues in life such as continued senior secondary school, higher and tertiary education or even the job.
Having them tampered with is tantamount to tampering with the candidates’ and nation’s future. Obviously the culprits will be brought to book but this does not change the emotional and psychological trauma that the candidates will have of re-writing a paper because someone has leaked it. The continued leakage of papers makes people question the credibility of the people handling local examinations.
It is the nation’s belief that heads of schools are appointed on meritocracy. However, the recent leakages by a school head may suggest that some do lack important credentials.
There may be need for the Education Ministry, through District Education offices and the Public Service Inspectorate, to continuously supervise heads to weed out undesirable elements. Zimsec needs to carry out a study on how leakages can be stopped.
Zimsec needs to put stringent measures on exam handling from head office down, and more importantly at schools level. Serious punitive measures should be taken against errant officers.
Zimsec needs to do regain the confidence of the candidates and the nation at large.
The examinations system is an indicator of the quality of education. Hence the continued leaks compromise the quality of our education.
Maxwell Rafomoyo is the director of the Education Coalition of Zimbabwe.
