Exam cheat nabbed at UB
Thato Kala | Tuesday May 13, 2014 11:26
The attempt backfired after the university’s Head of Academics received a tip off from invigilators.
The young man, whose name could not be established, was attempting to write a BIS309 exam paper for the mature Accounting student, who reportedly works for the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. Students speaking to Mmegi yesterday said the payment between the two collaborators would have been P100 per paper.
According to the students, the two-hour exam started at 1700 hours and was temporarily halted as focus shifted to a commotion as the university attempted to nab the cheat. An additional five minutes was granted at the end of the exam due to the disturbance.
The students relates that the Head of Academics walked into the exam room midway through exam and called out the student’s name and no one responded.
“The stranger who sat with us in the exam room finally owned up when the Head of Academics threatened to check papers one by one,” said one student requesting anonymity.
“The exam doors were shut and we were told no one was allowed to leave for the next 10 minutes. The head of academics then left three male invigilators manning the doors so that he would not run away.
Students explained that the culprit had escaped the previous day during another exam when the name of his ‘handler’ was called out.
But on Thursday, three security officers were brought in to grab and handcuff the culprit, who resisted saying he was prepared to walk out in peace.
“It seems there was a long-standing agreement between the two. We actually know the original student and some of our colleagues claim they know the one who was writing the exam,” said another student, adding that the practice is quite common at the university.
“This happens everywhere; we sit with people we know in class everyday but get a lot of strange faces in the exam room.”
The UB’s Public Affairs director, Mhitshane Reetsang said she was yet to receive a report on the matter.
“I have not received it, maybe I was away when it happened. I’ve been away on sick leave. It is something that needs an investigation. The best you can do is send your questions via email,” she said.
Reetsang had not responded to the emailed questions by press time yesterday.
Students speaking to Mmegi yesterday said the payment between the two collaborators would have been P100 per paper.
According to the students, the two-hour exam started at 1700 hours and was temporarily halted as focus shifted to a commotion as the university attempted to nab the cheat. An additional five minutes was granted at the end of the exam due to the disturbance.
The students relates that the Head of Academics walked into the exam room midway through exam and called out the student’s name and no one responded.
“The stranger who sat with us in the exam room finally owned up when the Head of Academics threatened to check papers one by one,” said one student requesting anonymity.
“The exam doors were shut and we were told no one was allowed to leave for the next 10 minutes.
The head of academics then left three male invigilators manning the doors so that he would not run away.
Students explained that the culprit had escaped the previous day during another exam when the name of his ‘handler’ was called out.
But on Thursday, three security officers were brought in to grab and handcuff the culprit, who resisted saying he was prepared to walk out in peace.
“It seems there was a long-standing agreement between the two. We actually know the original student and some of our colleagues claim they know the one who was writing the exam,” said another student, adding that the practice is quite common at the university.
“This happens everywhere; we sit with people we know in class everyday but get a lot of strange faces in the exam room.”
The UB’s Public Affairs director, Mhitshane Reetsang said she was yet to receive a report on the matter.
“I have not received it, maybe I was away when it happened. I’ve been away on sick leave. It is something that needs an investigation. The best you can do is send your questions via email,” she said.
Reetsang had not responded to the emailed questions by press time yesterday.