BEC promises to normalise exam results release
Pini Bothoko | Monday December 20, 2021 06:00
BEC’s chief executive officer, Dr Moreetsi Thobega assured the nation when giving an update on the 2021 examinations during a media briefing on Thursday.
He said they used to release Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) early December, followed by Junior Certificate Examinations (JCE) results beginning of January and Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) results mid February.
However, he revealed their release dates were badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020.
“Last year PSLE results were released in mid December around the 16th but this year we got delayed because we had a longer winter school holidays that stretched for two months thus affecting the school calendar and contact time between learners and teachers. This year schools had to close a bit late something that has delayed this year’s release of examinations results,” he said.
However, Thobega assured the nation that the PSLE results will be released on the week ending December 24, 2021 while JCE results will be released the week ending January 30, 2022 and BGCSE to be released on February 18, 2022.
“We want to normalise the release of our examinations results. Last year’s JCE results were released in February while BGSE were released in March, something that even parents were not happy with,” he said.
“The council has changed the way it has been doing its business since the COVID-19 pandemic befell the whole world, this was done by increasing numbers of marking venues.”
He stated that during the 2020/21 financial year, BEC could not do business as usual in as far as conducting training virtually. He further revealed that the marking of PSLE has been completed whilst JCE and BGSE examinations marking will be completed on December 24, 2021.
Thobega also disclosed that the 2020 marking was spread across the country to accommodate more examiners throughout the country to participate despite the travel restrictions that were in place at that time.
However, he revealed that this year the council has supported the government’s initiative of digitisation and digitalised training for invigilation personnel.
“In 2020/21 financial year, BEC could not do business as usual in as far as conducting trainings as the COVID-19 pandemic restricted movements and gatherings. This prompted the BEC to pilot conducting training virtually and materials were presented and sent to examining personnel to help them train their invigilators at centres,” he said.
He added the initiative has since received positive feedback from both trainees and trainers, as they were all impressed by the mode of execution of the training content. Thobega further stated that the digitalised training also helped the council in saving costs and time.
He indicated that even registration at JCE and BGCSE was mostly done online and all of the three examination results will be processed through MALEPA online registration, which has since proven accuracy in registration and examinations processing.
“The use of this online registration has improved controls and accountability, improved data flow between centres and BEC, efficient production of results and production of complex reports. This year’s results will also be released across all social media platforms to avoid crowding of learners,” Thobega said.