Academic cheating must be rooted out

The Monitor Editor | Wednesday May 13, 2026 06:00

If the allegations are proved, the educator in question stole not only an exam but also the future of honest students who studied hard.

The Ministry of Higher Education acted correctly by suspending the Special Education paper at both Tlokweng and Serowe colleges, as reported elsewhere in this edition.

Yet stopping one examination is a short-term fix for a problem that is spreading dangerously across the country.

The 2025 Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education results, released by the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) in April 2026, revealed that examination malpractice is no longer rare.

Impersonation cases, where candidates hired others to sit for exams on their behalf, and the smuggling of mobile phones into examination rooms during subjects like Economics and Setswana, show a system under threat. BEC and other examining bodies cannot fight this battle alone.

Government must take far harsher action, particularly against teachers and lecturers who facilitate cheating. These are not mere accomplices; they are guardians of our national standards. When a lecturer prices a leaked paper at P600, he cheapens the entire education system.

The law should treat such actions as serious criminal offences warranting dismissal, withdrawal of teaching licences, and custodial sentences. Anything less than these sanctions signals that we tolerate educational corruption.

The Ministry must also work with BEC to set up a dedicated investigations unit that can trace leaks quickly and prosecute offenders without fear or favour.

Colleges and schools that repeatedly record malpractice should face strict sanctions, including public naming and loss of examination centre status.

At the same time, responsibility does not rest with government alone. Students must understand that paying for a leaked paper or hiding a mobile phone in the toilet is self-sabotage.

A certificate achieved through cheating is worthless when you sit in a lecture hall or a workplace and cannot perform.

Honest effort may feel slower, but it builds competence and character. To those tempted, say no and report approaches immediately. The short-term gain of a dishonest pass is a long-term loss.

Parents, too, must play their part. Encouraging a child to cheat or turning a blind eye to sudden good results sends a devastating message: that success matters more than integrity. Have frank conversations about the value of honest work. Celebrate effort, not just letters on a certificate.