Kombra praises board’s action

EDUCATION secretary Dr Uke Kombra has commended the Western Highlands education board for investigating and terminating nine of 12 teachers accused of helping students cheat in the 2019 national examinations.
“The action taken by the provincial education board is very encouraging,” he said.
“(It) should act as a deterrent to other teachers and students in the future. The Education Department advises that it has, in place, strategies to contain cheating in the national examinations.
“These strategies include:

• PRODUCING answer sheets after the examinations. Therefore, no one should be claiming that they have the answer sheet before the examinations are conducted; and,
• SEVERE penalties for students and schools caught cheating. Any incidences of cheating be reported quickly to secondary school inspectors and where necessary the police.

“Any student caught cheating on site or after the results are processed by the measurement services division not to be certificated and his or her school results be nullified.
“Teachers assisting students to cheat will be severely dealt with, including de-registration and termination,” Dr Kombra said.
“The Education Department started taking up this tough approach a few years ago because it wanted to ensure that the final examinations were fair and transparent and that students were rewarded based on their commitment and hard work.
“Examinations, at times, are a very stressful experience for students (so) parents and guardians, teachers and communities must fully support the students so that they do not resort to cheating during exams.
“I call on provincial and school administrations together with the boards of governors, governing councils and managements to ensure that no malpractices are allowed in the examinations.”