08 Mar 2024

Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) has, in line with the examination regulations, penalised the centre, personnel as well as candidates who were in possession of the 2023 Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) questions.

This was said by Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe when addressing the media in Gaborone following release of the BGCSE results on Friday.

Dr Letsholathebe said the centre, located in Selebi Phikwe, had been withdrawn as an examination centre while the personnel of the centre had also been barred from conducting the BEC examination activities for a period of five years.

He said results of the 17 candidates who had directly accessed the question papers had been nullified and were further barred from registering for all BEC examinations for a period of two years. He explained that the incident was reported to law enforcement officers and the case was still before a court of law.

“Despite the major examination malpractice that was experienced at the start of the examinations, the 2023 BGCSE examinations were administered relatively well,” said the minister.

As such, the minister applauded the BGCSE cohort of teachers and parents for supporting the learners during the examinations period.

“You will agree with me that it was not easy, but we all pulled together to safeguard the integrity of government, the ministry, BEC and the credibility of the BGCSE qualification,” he added.

He also applauded the media for being patriotic through their reporting, protecting the affected candidates and the nation’s integrity.

“The media performed exceptionally well in handling the examination malpractice issue and by so doing proving to be an important partner in the education system,” he said.

Dr Letsholathebe said even though the education system was a tripartite between the learners, teachers and parents through the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), the media had without doubt proven to be the fourth arm of the education system.

“As we digitise the platforms of offering education, the media will play an important role. We shall continue engaging the media throughout our journey, sharing our challenges and success stories,” Dr Letsholathebe said. Ends