Thu, 29 Sep 2016 09:43:22 +0000
POLICE on the Copperbelt have apprehended and detained seven suspects in Chingola district in connection with the theft of 2016 Grade nine examination papers which were in transit to North-Western Province.
Copperbelt Provincial police chief Charity Katanga confirmed the development in a telephone interview, disclosing that eleven examination sachet kits and four Grade nine examination papers had since been recovered.
Mrs.Katanga said among those in police custody were pupils from Chabanyama,Chiwempala and Sunrise Secondary Schools in Chingola. Mrs. Katanga said that investigations in the matter are ongoing.
Criminals broke into the containerised truck that was ferrying examination papers for the November 2016 Grade 9 examination to Solwezi while in motion at Mushishima area in Chingola.
However Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) Copperbelt provincial secretary Christopher Simukonda has warned teachers against engaging in examination malpractices.
In a statement released to Daily Nation in Ndola, Mr.Simukonda said the union would not represent any teacher found involved in examination malpractices.
He said teachers should be role models and play their role in national development.
“As a union we want to state that involvement of teachers in examinations malpractices can only tarnish the image of the teaching profession and erode the confidence that people have in the education system. The union has huge task of making positive contribution to the development of the education sector,” he said.
Mr. Simukonda also urged parents to encourage pupils to study hard so that they supplement the efforts of teachers.
He also cautioned female pupils not to fall prey to male teachers who demand for sex in exchange for leaked examination papers.
