By Mabinty M.Kamara
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), in collaboration with various stakeholders in the education sector, have called on supervisors and invigilators of public examinations in Sierra Leone to work towards ensuring that the ongoing public examinations are free of malpractices.
The institutions made this call at a meeting held in Koidu Town, eastern region of the country on Thursday 13th August. The meeting attracted teachers, principals and other players in the sector.
In her statement at the engagement, the Manager of the ACC office in Kono, Hawanatu O. Kamara, said examination malpractice is “utterly wrong and dangerous” to the country’s educational system.
Kamara noted that the phenomenon has the potential to kill the purpose of schools and, consequently, reduce the nation’s ability to thrive in terms of attaining sustainable development. She called on all parties present at the meeting to stand up and join the anti-graft agency in its fight against cheating in public examinations as a sign of serving conscience and country.
Kamara warned that legal actions will be instituted against anyone who is found wanting, quoting ‘Offence of Academic Malpractice’ in Section 15 (3) A and (4) A of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as amended in 2019.
“This offence makes it a criminal offence, and a person found guilty will be liable to a fine not less than Le50,000,000 or a prison term not less than five years," she said, adding that both fine and imprisonment could be ordered.
Mrs Kamara told the teachers to feel free and comfortable with the ACC’s stance against examination malpractice, noting that the commission does not in any way target the teachers.
She added that the commission greatly respects teachers and the teaching profession as a whole.
"The ACC doesn’t pick on teachers. It is simply determined to deliver on its legal mandate to fight against corruption – a fight in which teachers themselves have an important role to play. So we are partners," Kamara assured.
In his statement, the ACC's Public Education Officer in Koidu, Aiah P. M. Sourie, who chaired the meeting, explained that the government expends a huge amount of resources to improve on the educational system in the country, noting that every well-meaning Sierra Leonean should therefore consider supporting the Free Quality Education program for the good of all.
"If learners merely receive grades and not earn them, and eventually get jobs in the public sector by some unfair means, the government wage bill will hike with a challenge," he said.
In his statement, the Deputy Director of Education in the district, Alimamy Kamara, also condemned cheating in examinations.
He encouraged the supervisors and invigilators assigned to the twelve examination centres, of which nine are located in the municipality of Koidu City, to adhere to all the ethos around the conduct of the ongoing public examinations.
Almamy commended the conduct of the National Primary School Examinations (NPSE), which were held on Monday, 3rd August, 2020, noting that there were no reported incidents of malpractices. The Deputy Director added that that was due to the vigilance of the invigilators and supervisors of the NPSE, as well as the active role played by Kono District Education Task Force on monitoring public examinations.
Almamy however pleaded with all examination stakeholders present in the meeting to note that there is plenty of work to do to ensure similar standards during the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations and the Basic Education Certificate Examinations.
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