By Ncaba Ntshakala
RARING to go! That is the Exams Council of Eswatini (ECESWA) who have now prepared everything for the EGCSE examination retake, and they are ready to administer the re-take for all Form 5 candidates who were affected by the seven papers that were leaked.
An ECESWA employee who commented on condition of anonymity said the council has put everything in place to ensure a smooth examination retake. It is alleged that ECESWA has taken all necessary steps to ensure that the examination process runs smoothly and without any complications.
The employee said that the council has prepared all necessary things to make sure that the candidates take their examination without interruptions. ECESWA is recognizing the significance of providing a fair and secure examination environment, it has undertaken thorough preparations.
They are alleged to have implemented enhanced security measures in order to prevent any potential breaches and guarantee the integrity of the exams. “With the aim of restoring trust and confidence in the examination system, ECESWA has taken this situation seriously and made it a priority to rectify the issues that arose from the leaked papers,” said the employee.
The council has worked diligently to ensure that all necessary resources, including proper exam materials are in place. At the last press briefing, ECESWA Registrar Dr Mandlenkhosi Dlamini said that the council is committed to upholding the principles of fairness and equal opportunity in education.
They understand the importance of providing a level playing field for all candidates and are working diligently to uphold the credibility and integrity of the examination process. He said that they will have extensive planning and coordination to ensure that the affected Form 5 candidates have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a secure and unbiased environment.
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“By taking these decisive actions, ECESWA aims to restore confidence among candidates, parents, and the wider public in the education system. It is their sincere hope that the re-examinations will proceed smoothly, enabling the affected candidates to showcase their abilities and achieve the outcomes they deserve,” said Mandlenkhosi Dlamini at the press briefing.
Dlamini confirmed during the press briefing at the council head office, that several examination papers had been leaked prior to being written by candidates. According to Dlamini, seven papers were accessed by students before the designated examination date.
The leaked papers are Mathematics Paper 2 and 4, Physical Science Paper 2 and 4, Siswati Paper 3 and Religious Education Paper 1 and 2. Present at the briefing was ECESWA Executive Committee that includes the Registrar, Director of Finance Mandla Ngwenya, Director of Product Development Standards and Research and Director of Examination Administration and Results Processing.
Also, the were representatives from Ministry of Education and Training, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the ECESWA Council. The Registrar said that these revelations have raised concerns about the integrity of the examination system and the fairness of the assessment process.
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The employee viewed that they were asked to work extra hours to ensure that the examination processes are in order. On our last publication on the issue, ECESWA Communications Officer Hlengiwe Ndlovu highlighted that 19,548 pupils have registered for the Form 5 examination with 16,233 full-time candidates and 3,315 private candidates.
Simangele Mthembu who teaches in one the schools in Manzini said that they are ready to help the pupils as this has caused an intense strain to them. Mthembu further confirmed that her school and other schools around her have expressed their preparedness for the examination retake. Temalangeni Dlamini, a Form 5 learner, said that it was shocking at first that they will be writing again, but now they are ready to sit for the examination.
“We were terrified at first that we are going to be writing again because of people who decided to copy. But now my parents pushed me to study and ignore the cause of the retake and I can assure you that I am ready now,” commented Dlamini.
