By Esther Chisola
National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) executive director Aaron Chansa has commended the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) for suspending eight GCE examination centres and invalidating 4,771 exam results due to reported incidents of malpractice.
Meanwhile, one of the affected GCE students, Betty Ng’undu says the act has affected those who were not involved in the malpractice.
On Tuesday, ECZ suspended eight GCE examination centres and invalidated 4,771 exam results due to reported incidents of malpractice.
In an interview with Daily Revelation Yesterday, Chansa said if there would be some teachers found wanting, the council should have their licences revoked.
“The decision is welcome, we commend the ECZ for that action and we hope that further investigations are going to be done. And if there will be some teachers who will be found wanting, those teachers must have their licenses revoked and also fire them from the system by the teaching service commission,” he said.
He said the suspension must be used as a wakeup call to the examination centres to act professionally.
“But this is a wake-up call, not only to the Ministry but also to the centres to act professionally or they will be suspended also,” he said.
Chansa urged the Ministry of Education, ECZ and other education bodies to go flat out and sensitise teachers about the code of ethics.
“But also, it’s time that the Ministry, ECZ, the unions and all stakeholders must all go flat out to sensitise teachers about the code of ethics for teachers, and also to sensitise learners against engaging in exam malpractices,” he advised.
He further encouraged those writing exams this year to desist from examination malpractice.
“And also it’s time to encourage those candidates who are sitting for grade seven, nine and twelve later this year to work hard, avoid exam malpractices, otherwise the suspension of those eight centres is something that we support as NAQEZ and we hope that others are going to learn from that,” said Chansa.
Meanwhile, Ng’undu said those who were not part of the malpractice have greatly been affected, especially those from poor families who invested a lot in their studies.
“I feel sad that this has happened because I really struggled to raise money for my tuition and exams fees. The act of a few people has greatly affected me and my fellow innocent students. Yes, others were involved but we were all affected,” said Ng’undu.
