PETER SICHALI writes
@SunZambian
THERE is need to amend the Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ) Act to strengthen penalties for perpetrators of exam malpractices, says Minister of general Education David Mabumba.
Mr Mabumba said ECZ Act was created a long time ago and it had become weak to fight examination malpractices hence the need to amend it.
He said that there was need to strengthen the Act to ensure that those who participate in leakages were punished accordingly as opposed to small fines of as low as K5, 000.
Mr Mabumba was speaking during his tour of Muchinga Province to inspect Zambia Education Enhancement Project (ZEEP) and addressed teachers and parents at Nzoche secondary school at the weekend.
He said the current Act was too weak to fight examination related offences.
Mr Mabumba said he would soon take Examinations Council of Zambia Act to parliament for amendment to create confidence in Zambia’s examinations and assessment systems.
“Examination leakages are a cancer that has comprised the standard of our education system and there is urgent need to amend and strengthen punishment for perpetrators of exam malpractices,” he said.
Mr Mabumba said this ministry was committed to ensuring that the Act was amended before the beginning of 2019 examination calendar.
“We will accelerate the amendment of the Act so that it can be ready before the beginning of the next examination,” Mr Mabumba said.
And the minister said examination papers would be stored in Zonal strong rooms that would be manned by Zambia police officers to avoid leakages.
Mr Mabumba has since directed provincial education offices to take centre stage in the administration of examinations.
Meanwhile Mr Mabumba has directed project committee at Nzoche Secondary school to ensure that the 1st phase of the project was completed by September 30.
He said government had already released funds and there was need to expedite the construction so that the structure could be in use.
