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From: as on 13 Mar 2010 18:39
Zimsec probes O� level exam leak

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/

Saturday, 13 March 2010 20:18

ZIMSEC has launched an internal investigation following indications that a
November 2009 O�Level Maths paper was leaked. Insiders revealed that results
released last week show that an unusually high pass rate was recorded in the
subject.

Zimsec says it is still assessing the performance of students in the
examinations marred by long-running strikes by teachers and chaotic
preparations.

�The investigation is being led by one of the directors,� said the source.
�But there is concern that the investigation is not being given the
seriousness it deserves because it might touch some big fish.�

The sources revealed Grade VII pupils were also prejudiced after a section
containing diagrams was pulled out of the General Paper question paper
before it went to the printers.

�People used the examination to fix each other,� said another source. �There
was a fight between a head of division and confidential secretary and there
is strong suspicion that they used the paper to fight their wars.

�A paper containing diagrams was pulled out and this inconvenienced a lot
students especially in Mashonaland West.�

Esau Nhandara, the Zimsec assistant director who was said to be in charge of
the investigation said he was on leave and could not comment on the matter.

A Zimsec official also said there were suspicions that some employees were
selling examination papers before they were written.

An audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General and Ernst & Young
also raises questions about security in the marking process.

�This production of results has both manual and automated processes and
there is a high risk of error especially in the manual keying-in of marks,�
said the report of the audit carried out in November last year.

�The issue of storage has been another challenge in this process as the
storage of results slips at the head office is not secure.

The back up of soft copies of the results of previous years is also kept
within the Zimsec premises and this is risky.�

BY OUR STAFF

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