adminMorris Mtisi
WHAT started as stinking rumour ended up as a fact. The 2014 O-Level English Language Paper 1 and 2 leaked. And so did the Mathematics Papers 1 and 2.
New dates for affected candidates to write newly set papers will soon be announced before schools close. Thanks to the relevant authorities’ swift action to redress the anomaly and make sure candidates re-sit credible examinations set to bear legitimate results.
The question people ask is: “How much longer are we going to wait before this leaking business comes to a dead end?”
What is wrong with our examination council or board? What does a school head gain by leaking examination questions? The question is pretty the same as: “What does a school headmaster at a school called Hwata, somewhere in Matabeleland, gain by cheating?”
Well, the school could be somewhere in Mash East or Central, Chipinge North or South or indeed somewhere in Mupandawana or Zaka, it would not make one difference. The questions would be much the same.
One of the major reasons for a headmaster to risk tampering with question papers before the examination is obvious: to forge a high pass rate. Then what? Then the school hits newspaper headlines and wins merit awards. And the headmaster is promoted to some bigger school or indeed some higher post in the district or provincial office.
We have in the past made noises against competitions set to make schools battle it out for trophies and prizes as if academic performance were some form of sporting activity or entertainment. No one listened. We continued to hear of the best teachers and best schools as if education were a process of getting to the top.
Clearly the purpose of education is not to turn schools into the best with the highest pass rates but indeed to be the best they can. If examination results are used as a tool to measure the best in schools in order to make them win awards and earn their heads promotions, what do you expect?
Soon leaking exam papers will become very lucrative business as school heads tussle for recognition, awards and promotion.
Corruption is like Ebola. It infects even those who are supposed to prevent it. And the education sector has its share of the national tragedy.
The truth of the matter may be more shocking. What does this mean? It may mean those who were caught are only a tip of the iceberg. And, who knows, maybe leaking papers takes different forms? How much can we trust even the examiners? Those who set the papers?
How do we know they are not making good money leaking the papers to school heads and individuals who can afford to buy them? How can we know the examiners, most of them school teachers, are not rehearsing real exam questions with their pupils before examinations are written and in the guise of resource persons “selling” exam information to paying headmasters wetting their pants to be the best.
We may be worried about papers flying on the city streets and dust roads of countryside townships yet those in the fraudulent business have devised “cleaner” and more shrewd ways of leaking examination papers? Well, what we already know is embarrassing enough, but what we don’t may be more embarrassing. Zimbabwe must remember the Ugandan story and take a cue from it. Once upon a time Makerere University was a beacon of academic excellence in Africa . . . the giant of university education in Africa. Until Idi Amin came into power and literally dished out degrees, not only to himself, but also to friends, relatives and family!
The world slowly stopped to recognise accolades attained through corrupt and clandestine ways. Makerere University fell from hero to zero and from glory to oblivion. Surprising?
Zimbabweans are smart people. We are rated the best in Africa with the highest figures of individuals who can read and write. The world lusts for intellectual capital from Zimbabwe . . . at least used to. After attaining independence, our Government did everything, the best for its people to access education.
Single-handedly almost, President Mugabe made education for Zimbabweans his priority goal and ensured that more schools were built. And people went to school. It happened. The rest is history.
Yet because we are not careful, perhaps too excited, we have allowed the education sector to fall from grace to shame.
And leaking examination papers and a dismally low pass rate have continued to be the two worst national embarrassments every single year. Some may have already become used to it. What country considers failure to be its best reason to be proud about?
Online Reporter