O’Level exams leak: Minister told to resign

via O’Level exams leak: Minister told to resign 14/11/2014

THE opposition National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) party has demanded that Education Minister Lazarus Dokora should resign following a damaging examination leak that has forced authorities to order a re-sit.

In a statement released Thursday, the Lovemore Madhuku-led political formation also urged parents and guardians to approach the High Court to stop the government from implementing what it called a draconian decision to force innocent children to sit for the Mathematics and English examinations for a second time inside a month.

“The NCA party is alarmed by the decision taken by ZIMSEC (Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council) to nullify the 2014 ‘O’ Level English and Mathematics examinations.

“ZIMSEC also ordered over 200 000 ‘O’ level pupils to retake the four examination papers. The call by ZIMSEC is arising from an alleged leak which occurred at one school in Midlands province.

“The decision by ZIMSEC is both irresponsible and grossly irrational. It subjects innocent pupils to unbearable pain and suffering.

The opposition party said in its view such a drastic decision should only have been taken with respect to the “affected centres”.

“The ZIMSEC approach is draconian and does not take into account the fundamental rights of the children concerned had they been given an opportunity to be heard.

“The NCA party notes that the majority of the children involved are below the age of 18 and would require the assistance of their parents/guardians to approach the appropriate court to challenge the myopic decision by ZIMSEC,” the NCA said.

“As NCA party we therefore urge the parents of the affected pupils to protect the rights and interests of their children by approaching the High Court to stop the ZIMSEC madness.”

It added that ZIMSEC must put in place appropriate measures to prevent examination leaks in future.

“Instead of nullifying the examinations the ZIMSEC authorities must scrutinise themselves and remove bad apples within the institution. The problem is with ZIMSEC systems not the candidates,” the party said.

Then Education Minister Edmund Garwe resigned from his post after his daughter was found in possession of junior examination papers before they had been written in 1996.

Zimbabwe’s education system, once considered the finest on the African continent, has been in a tailspin since the government decided to localise towards the turn of the century.