Maun teacher in court over exam papers

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Tuesday November 9, 2010 00:00

Maun officer commanding senior superintendent Robert Masibi said 33-year-old Uyapo Marobela, was charged with stealing by person employed in the public service, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

Marobela was granted bail and will appear for mention on November 15 before the Maun magistrate.

According to information reaching Mmegi, the 33-year-old found himself in the examinations committee thereby having access to the keys to where the papers that were waiting to be written were stored. This is happening when other teachers have boycotted the invigilation.

Marobela is alleged to have stolen the exam papers for his wife who is also writing the exam as a private candidate. His wife is said to have often approached the teachers at Maun Secondary School for assistance with her revision.

The teachers at the schools are said to have been suspicious when they realised that the topics that Marobela's wife focused on were the same that were usually in the exam papers all the time. 'He was arrested last Friday and appeared before a magistrate today,' the source told Mmegi.

When reached for comment the Public Relations Officer for the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) stated that they were still investigating the matter. Questioned on what would happen if found out that the papers were discussed and shared with other students sitting for BGCSE, Keikotlhae said that they would cross the bridge when they got to it.

BEC engaged temporary invigilators following a boycott by teachers over an impasse arising from its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the teachers' unions.

This year's examinations have been written under very challenging circumstances since then.