Review Exam Invigilation

THE results of last year's national Primary Leaving Examination, released early this week, showed that the menace of cheating is still prevalent. Over 10,000 candidates had their results either annulled or withheld over examination malpractice. The Uganda National Examinations Board presented a dirty list of cheating districts that included Mbale, with 19 centres pinpointed for malpractice, Kasese 18, Kabarole and Masaka 17 each, Mpigi 15, Kamuli 14, Mukono 13, Iganga and Kibaale 12 each, and Mbarara 10. UNEB also revealed how a headteacher and a district inspector of schools attempted to bribe an official who caught them red-handed while assisting candidates. The two were handed over to the Police for prosecution. At the same time, UNEB has resolved that any centre proven to have condoned malpractice on more than one occasion will have their centre number withdrawn indefinitely and the ministry of education will be asked to cancel the centre's licence. These are good measures, which should go a long way in curbing the menace. But they are not foolproof as they are more reactive than proactive. We need to devise a preventive system. Changing the system of invigilation can be a preventive measure. At the moment, it is teachers in the respective schools who supervise their candidates. While the majority of teachers are scrupulous, morally upright individuals who would not condone cheating, there are still a big number of corrupt individuals. It is these individuals (who would have taught the very candidates they are supervising) who are complicit in most of the malpractice. UNEB and the ministry should consider sending teachers to supervise exams in schools other than their own. Ends