Tutors, lecturers to lose licences over exam malpractice

EXAM MALPRACTICE

In a move to combat examinations malpractice among the allied health professions, government has warned that lecturers, tutors who abet such acts will lose licences. 

Tutors who will be caught assisting or coaching candidates during examination period, will be required to sign against a written statement in presence of other invigilators.

The invigilators will also append their signatures against the statement and this will serve as evidence that the lecturer participated in examination malpractice.

 Examination coordinators and Invigilators during the orientations on medical exams that will start on Monday November 26, 2018. (Photo by Ramadhan Abbey) 

This will take effect starting this year and different lecturers, tutors have been warned.

The new guidelines are part of the revised rules on reporting and hearing procedure for examinations malpractice at the Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board (UAHEB).

According to UAHEB, the new regulations were launched in October 2017 and served to all the allied health training institutions across the country.

Stephen Ssenoga, the UAHEB Board Chairperson told New Vision that the institution is doing all  it takes to eradicate malpractice.

"Allied health professionals should never cheat, imagine being treated by a health worker who cheated an exam, that would be disaster to many people," he said.

In addition, he says, UAHEB will cease working with academic institutions which tend to conceal culprits.

The new regulations will also curb invigilators who are allegedly paid off by training institutions or candidates and grant them chance to cheat.

Ssenoga noted that some invigilators take advantage of the fact that practicals are marked within the examination centers, and they award marks to students exorbitantly.

"In this case, invigilators will be affected," he added.

He made the remarks on Friday while addressing examination invigilators and principals of institutions at the UAHEB headquarters located at Ntinda, in Kampala.

The function also served as preparation for the coming examinations slated to start on Monday 26, 2018.

The UAHEB Executive Secretary Kato-Kimoga confirmed that UAHEB has over the years received information that acts of malpractice have been orchestrated by some tutors.

He also raised that some principals of academic institutions, examination coordinators, community persons are helping candidates to cheat.

"This is usually very regretful if someone involved is an allied health professional, who is trained to save lives," Kimoga said.

Similar procedures will be undertaken for students caught cheating in examination.

The examination official shall ensure that candidate makes a written statement and signs it.

However, the candidate should be allowed to continue with the examination and also instruct the candidate to append his/her signature on the material.

The new regulations recommend that the invigilators should make a formal note of the time when the alleged malpractice was discovered.

"Where possible invite another examination official/principal to act as a witness to the suspected malpractice and then countersign the note to confirm the incident." A section of the revised rules reads.                

Examinations

A total of 13,762 candidates from 161 centers will seat for the November/December first semester examinations which will kick off on Monday 26, 2018.

The candidates will be examined in 28 allied health programmes in the fields of clinical, diagnostic, community and preventive medicine among others.

"All papers have undergone the required examination preparatory procedures which include moderation and labelling among others," Kimoga said.

Joel Nganda one of the invigilators said; "We shall ensure that exams are safe and free from malpractice."

Background on UAHEB

UAHEB was established by the Act of Parliament under the Business, Technical, Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) Act of 2008.

It's mandated is to streamline, regulate and coordinate examinations and awards in the Allied Health Training Institutions in the country.