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Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council has started inviting proposals from reputable firms to design a tamper-proof system. The system is expected to enhance the security of confidential examination material such as question papers and unmarked scripts. A notice released by Zimsec last week says the system should provide electronic document-locking capability and robust reusable lockable containers.
Documents will be in security- sealed component packaging, separate from the system.
The lock must be able to collect and provide information on its interaction with its key and/or any other keys and objects in its contact.
The keys should be programmable and have capacity to be remotely controllable.
The system is expected to have capacity to track movement of boxes or parcels for any change of location of more than 50 metres, amongst other functions.
Over the years examinations administered by Zimsec have been undermined by leakages of examination material.
The situation has been attributed to poor management and corruption.
In November last year, Ordinary Level Mathematics and English Examination Papers 1 and 2 were leaked at a school in Midlands resulting in a re-sit of the examinations countrywide, a situation that traumatised hundreds of candidates.
In November 2013, Ordinary Level Geography 2 and Integrated Science 2 examination papers were leaked at a school in the Midlands Province affecting at least six secondary schools in Gweru and Kwekwe.
The candidates had to re-sit the examinations after the examinations board established that the leakage had not affected other provinces.
“Zimsec is keen to embrace the latest technological developments in ICT-based document security systems as a measure to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of its examinations in line with its vision, mission and core values,” reads the statement.
Online Reporter