Mpango speaks tough on exam malpractices

THE government has issued a strong warning against school teachers who engage in examination malpractices, calling on the Police Force and Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to take legal actions against the culprits.

Vice-President Dr Philip Mpango said on Thursday that some teachers have been involved in examination leakages for personal gains, the practice that tarnishes the image of the profession.

The VP sounded the warning while opening the Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU) Annual General Meeting held in Dodoma.

In his speech, read on his behalf by the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability), Prof Joyce Ndalichako, the VP said, teachers with such behaviour should stop it immediately.

He said instead of engaging in examination leakages and cheats they should work professionally and be innovative to help students acquire the required knowledge so that they can perform well in their examinations.

“I am directing Police and PCCB to investigate these incidents and bring the culprits to book,” he said.

The National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) recently cancelled results of 2,194 candidates estimated as 0.16 per cent of pupils who sat for 2022 Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) due to   cheating.

However, the NECTA has given the pupils a second chance to demonstrate their ability after considering concerns from parents and education stakeholders, granting them an opportunity to re-sit for exams.

In a related development Dr Mpango counseled teachers to refrain from punishing students with the aim of undermining them.

“We have witnessed incidents where teachers give students punishment which cause injuries to students, the government had issued a circular and guidelines on corporal punishment,” he said.

Dr Mpango added that the guidelines should be observed because it has clearly stated how the punishment should be administered, teachers should stop giving severe punishment to students because they don’t help them to change rather causing more harm.

On her part Prof Ndalichako, said that the government will not tolerate any divisions within the TTU because they endanger the sustainability of the union.

She said the conflicting parties within the union should present their   concerns to the respective authorities for appropriate actions.

Prof Ndalichako called upon teachers to use the meeting to resolve their differences.

She said teachers are guardians of the society and they are responsible for building patriotism and encouraging ethical conduct among youth.

The Minister called upon teachers to demonstrate maturity, patriotism and skills by deliberating issues which are beneficial to their profession and the nation in general.

She called upon teachers to use arbitration and reconciliation entities to present their concerns so that they can be handled transparently.