Nsimbabi orders Makerere exam probe
Jul 11, 2005
PRIME Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi has asked the Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, to investigate reports that students hire ‘mercenaries’ to do examinations for them.
By Hamis Kaheru
PRIME Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi has asked the Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, to investigate reports that students hire ‘mercenaries’ to do examinations for them.
This followed a ‘Spotlight’ story in Sunday Vision of July 10 in which an undercover reporter said he illegally sat for two examinations at the university but was not discovered by invigilators (see summary top left).
“Unless this story is disproved, it is likely to damage the reputation of our great university,†Nsibambi said yesterday in a letter to Luboobi.
He copied the letter to President Yoweri Museveni, Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, the vice-chancellors of Mbarara, Kyambogo and Gulu universities, the Principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS) and The New Vision chief executive William Pike, among others.
Nsibambi thanked the anonymous reporter for highlighting the problem.
Here is the letter in full:
I was greatly disturbed when I read the Sunday Vision of July 10, 2005, Page 14, by the Undercover Reporter that it is possible for students at Makerere University to hire a competent person like a graduate to do examinations for them. The person who wrote this story mentioned that he sat for two examinations illegally and that he was not discovered by the invigilation system.
I am aware that you have been grappling with this problem as a result of which Dr Lillian Tibatemwa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, warned Deans and Heads of Department against employing unauthorised people to handle examinations materials and invigilate examinations. Unless this story is disproved, it is likely to damage the reputation of our great University.
The purpose of this letter is twofold:
First, you are requested to work with experts in this area of invigilation so that you may establish whether or not what was published is true. If it is true, it is important to identify the wrongdoers and ensure that they are stiffly punished.
Second, it is important to institute a foolproof system of conducting examinations involving small and large numbers.
We must thank the reporter of Sunday Vision for highlighting this intricate problem. We must take rigorous steps in order to ensure that all our universities have foolproof systems of conducting examinations involving small and large numbers and of ensuring that all examination scripts are marked in a fair manner.
It is possible that this problem may be affecting other universities, and Makerere University Business School. Consequently, you may wish to work together in order to stamp out this academic evil. I am, therefore, copying this letter to Vice-Chancellors of other universities and to the Principal of MUBS so that you may work together to address and stamp out examinations malpractices.
As you know, having been authorised by the Visitor to the university, I had earlier requested the Minister of Education and Sports to institute a Visitation Committee to all public universities and to some sampled private universities. The Visitation Committee will examine the persistent problems facing our universities and make recommendations to the Government for solving them.
PRIME Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi has asked the Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Livingstone Luboobi, to investigate reports that students hire ‘mercenaries’ to do examinations for them.
This followed a ‘Spotlight’ story in Sunday Vision of July 10 in which an undercover reporter said he illegally sat for two examinations at the university but was not discovered by invigilators (see summary top left).
“Unless this story is disproved, it is likely to damage the reputation of our great university,†Nsibambi said yesterday in a letter to Luboobi.
He copied the letter to President Yoweri Museveni, Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, the vice-chancellors of Mbarara, Kyambogo and Gulu universities, the Principal of Makerere University Business School (MUBS) and The New Vision chief executive William Pike, among others.
Nsibambi thanked the anonymous reporter for highlighting the problem.
Here is the letter in full:
I was greatly disturbed when I read the Sunday Vision of July 10, 2005, Page 14, by the Undercover Reporter that it is possible for students at Makerere University to hire a competent person like a graduate to do examinations for them. The person who wrote this story mentioned that he sat for two examinations illegally and that he was not discovered by the invigilation system.
I am aware that you have been grappling with this problem as a result of which Dr Lillian Tibatemwa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, warned Deans and Heads of Department against employing unauthorised people to handle examinations materials and invigilate examinations. Unless this story is disproved, it is likely to damage the reputation of our great University.
The purpose of this letter is twofold:
First, you are requested to work with experts in this area of invigilation so that you may establish whether or not what was published is true. If it is true, it is important to identify the wrongdoers and ensure that they are stiffly punished.
Second, it is important to institute a foolproof system of conducting examinations involving small and large numbers.
We must thank the reporter of Sunday Vision for highlighting this intricate problem. We must take rigorous steps in order to ensure that all our universities have foolproof systems of conducting examinations involving small and large numbers and of ensuring that all examination scripts are marked in a fair manner.
It is possible that this problem may be affecting other universities, and Makerere University Business School. Consequently, you may wish to work together in order to stamp out this academic evil. I am, therefore, copying this letter to Vice-Chancellors of other universities and to the Principal of MUBS so that you may work together to address and stamp out examinations malpractices.
As you know, having been authorised by the Visitor to the university, I had earlier requested the Minister of Education and Sports to institute a Visitation Committee to all public universities and to some sampled private universities. The Visitation Committee will examine the persistent problems facing our universities and make recommendations to the Government for solving them.