The Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) says it is yet to decide whether the three leaked Ordinary Level examination papers should be re-written or not.
ZIMSEC has acknowledged the leakage of three Ordinary Level Papers – Mathematics Papers 1 and 2, and English Paper 2 – but there are speculative reports that the examination paper leaks may have involved more papers.
ZIMSEC spokesperson Nicholette Dlamini told NewsDay that they were carrying out investigations to determine the extent of the leakages. She said:
We have not yet come up with a decision for rewriting the leaked papers.
The decision for a rewrite will come up after establishing how far the exposure to the leak s was, and so the process is still underway.
In a statement last week on Friday, ZIMSEC said the examination results for the students who were fingered in the leakages will be nullified.
Former Education minister David Coltart told NewsDay that the extent of the leaks warranted rewriting of the examinations. He said:
The admission that the leaks are widespread is a cause for concern. It undermines the integrity of the entire examination system.
It shows that the security of the entire system is flawed and it will result in stakeholders losing confidence in the results.
If there are over a hundred pupils who have been arrested over the leaks, ZIMSEC has no choice, but to nullify the papers and arrange rewriting of the examinations.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association secretary-general Goodwill Taderera also said ZIMSEC has no choice but to rerun the examinations. Said Taderera:
The examinations were shared on social media and some had printed copies of the leaked papers.
The whole system is in jeopardy and only a rewrite will clear the air.
There is not much evidence that is needed to convince ZIMSEC to arrange for a rewrite of the examinations.