Ministry gripped by exams scandal

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*Pure sciences affected
*Over 200 CJSS fail to submit practicals
*BEC hiked pay by 800 percent

All 28 senior secondary schools and over 200 junior secondary schools across the country are said to have refused to submit marks for practical subjects, also known as 'course work', which were due by September 29.  However the PS in the Ministry of Education, Ruth Maphorisa yesterday said it was too early to talk numbers as the deadline for the submission of the marks was only September 29, the day before the public holidays. Maphorisa said it was unfortunate that some people are rejoicing over this problem which threatens the lives of Batswana children.

"What I can tell you is that moderation( the verifying of marks by independent teachers) is ongoing as we speak.The September 29 deadline was set by myself as the PS. I wrote instructing the head-teachers that they should have submitted the marks for the course work to their regions by September 29. I am not in a position to talk about numbers right now as you know that today(Monday) we had to start the exams for the Standard 7s; it is only today that I will seek updates from the regions". Maphorisa also said as the head of the ministry she has every right to demand to be given the students' marks because they belong to the students and not to the teachers. Mmegi understands that a last ditch effort by the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) to hike the pay by 800 percent from P1 per student to P9 did not bear fruit as BOSETU successfully urged the teachers not to take the money until BOSETU approved it.

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