By Ncaba Ntshakala
The Examination Council of Eswatini (ECESWA) has announced remarkable progress in its investigations regarding the leaking of seven EGCSE (Form 5) examination papers. This was announced by the ECESWA Registrar Dr Mandlenkhosi Dlamini in a press briefing at the council’s head offices in Ezulwini on Tuesday afternoon.
The council revealed that the leaked papers were scribbled by teachers in one particular school and subsequently sent to an alleged distributor. The distributor’s task was to compile the questions into a portable document format (PDF). These compiled questions were then disseminated to agents stationed in various examination centres across the country, who were solely responsible for selling the papers to willing candidates.
The alleged agents were made clear on their mandate as they only sold examination questions or topics to peers who were willing to pay. Candidates who were not forthcoming with payment were deprived of examination information while those who made payments got hold of the questions/topics. Dr Mandlenkhosi Dlamini revealed in their probe that candidates who could not afford to pay the required money, but were willing to engage in this transaction, speedily formed groups so they could make collective payments in exchange for the information.
According to Dlamini, some papers were sold for E400.00, some for E300.00 and in some instances when Candidates could not afford these fees, they formed groups and contributed varying amounts of E25.00 to E30.00 to get hold of examination information. ECESWA mentioned that in their investigation they found that candidates had to work collectively to get hold of the papers. The implicated Teachers alleged to have tried to cover their tracks by refraining from sharing the original examination papers.
ALSO READ: SEVEN PAPERS LEAKED: ECESWA Confirms
ECESWA has highlighted that they have made investigations on each paper. On SiSwati Paper 3, their investigations concluded that Candidates were well-guided on the topics contained in the examination paper. It is alleged that the candidates were given information on the story, poem and cultural event which would appear in the examination.
For Religious Education Papers 1 and 2, the candidates were also well-guided on the topics and questions that were contained in the examination paper. Again, with Mathematics Papers 3 and 4, over and above leaking and circulating the questions, the Teachers involved also provided workings and answers. These answers were widely circulated on WhatsApp.
Further on Physical Science Paper 4, which is an alternative to practical paper, many Candidates had access to the confidential information that is sent to centres. ECESWA argues that from the source of the leakage, Distributors, Agents and Candidates functioned in a manner that resembles a well-coordinated syndicate.
ALSO READ: Embiveni boosts its competitiveness, spreads its wings to Nhlangano
ECESWA is responsible for the administration and oversight of examinations in Eswatini. Registrar Dr Mandlenkhosi Dlamini said that the council dedicated immense efforts towards preserving the integrity of the examination system. Their recent breakthrough exhibits the council’s commitment to upholding standards of fairness and equity for all candidates.
The investigations highlighted a widespread network involved in the illegal distribution of examination materials. ECESWA revealed that teachers from a single school illicitly obtained some questions on the examination papers, likely with the intent of providing an unfair advantage to select students. It is alleged that once obtained, the teachers sent copies of the papers to the alleged distributor.
As reported the distributor’s task was to compile the questions into a PDF format, making them more accessible and manipulable. These compiled papers were then entrusted to agents located in various examination centres across the country who were specifically assigned to sell the leaked papers to candidates seeking an unfair advantage. The alleged syndicate aimed at manipulating the system for their preferred candidates to have an advantage over the others. They also strived to make income from the leak.
In his remarks, Dlamini said that the council is working closely with authorities to ensure that justice is served and to prevent any further malpractice within the examination system. A teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed that such incidents of leaked examination papers have far-reaching consequences as they undermine the credibility and fairness of the education system.
“Students who have worked hard and prepared diligently can find their efforts compromised, impacting their futures and casting doubt on the overall integrity of the examination system,” said the teacher.
The Registrar said that ECESWA pleads for cooperation from all relevant stakeholders, including schools, parents, and law enforcement agencies, to maintain the integrity of the examination process.
As investigations continue, the ECESWA has vowed to implement stringent measures to prevent future instances of leaked examination papers. “Since the 2023 EGCSE examination leakage involves a Centre, ECESWA management will engage Council to chart-forward on the corrective measures which must be taken.
Our guidelines, however, make provisions such as revoking the implicated school’s Examination Centre Status. Revoking the Centre Status would mean no ECESWA examinations will be written in this Centre after the 2023 EGCSE re-sit” reads a statement sent by Hlengiwe Ndlovu, ECESWA Communications Officer.
