Exams generate more contradictions than invigilators

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Wednesday October 20, 2010 00:00

 

The Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) claims that 800 teachers participated in the invigilation of the Std 7 examinations which were concluded a fortnight ago.

Not so, says the Botswana Teachers Union (BTU). Its Secretary General, Ibo Kenosi, has dismissed BEC's claims as mere propaganda, saying BTU has 450 letters of resignation from teachers who had earlier enlisted to invigilate.

As the saga unfolds, BEC says it is struggling to get marks for course work from schools, a situation that may see examination papers being marked without the course work.

Responding to a Mmegi questionnaire, BEC spokesman Charles Keikotlhae, says less than 10 non-teaching personnel had to be engaged by only a few schools in the north of Botswana.

Though it could not be independently verified by Mmegi, Keikotlhae actually brings the figure for invigilators who were not teachers in the more than 800 primary schools throughout the country down to less than seven percent.

Mmegi wanted to know how much BEC was affected the teachers' boycott of invigilation which is spearheaded by teachers' unions angry at BEC's attitude in recent negotiations that did not bear fruit.

Meanwhile, Keikotlhae says they have not yet determined how many teachers are participating in the ongoing Form 5 examinations because regions are still training standby invigilators.

But the Minister of Education, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, late this week posted a message on her Facebook wall that contrary to intimidation by unions, at least 13 senior secondary school heads and their deputies had managed to rally teachers to invigilate.

Says her message (sic): 'Lotsane Secondary School is on track, they too will write the exam under the leadership of the school head and his deputy, I have received similar confirmation for, Maun, Gaborone (all senior secs) Kgari Sechele, Moeng, Madiba, LobSec, Seepapitso, Materspei, McConnell and Shashe.

'In some schools some teachers haven refused to hand in assessment marks for course work. We will keep you posted as I get updates from BEC'.

Earlier in the week, the Minister had posted on her wall: 'YOU WILL all be happy to know that Shoshong Senior Sec is also running well.

There are temps working with the support of the school head and some teachers have offered to assist. Mothamo CJSS is also ready to go in two weeks time with the full co-operation of the school head. Halala Maticha Halala!!!!!!'

However, BEC spokesman Keikotlhae seems to concur with BOSETU's assertion that all the country's 28 senior secondary schools refused to submit marks for course work. 

The deadline for the submission of the marks for coursework was September 29 and the subjects affected include Agriculture, Design & Technology, Business Studies, Art, and Home Economics. Junior secondary schools were also expected to submit their marks for course work.

Says Keikotlhae: 'Some schools are still refusing to give course work marks and the issue is for the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to solve.

Remember (that) BEC just wants marks and it is upon the centre to provide those marks, failing which BEC will record exam marks only.'

Mmegi: Trade unions have been accusing BEC of recruiting unqualified staff for invigilation and marking. Would you confirm or deny that the Std 7, JC and Form 5 exams were invigilated by unqualified staff?

BEC: As stated through several media channels, the standoff provided BEC with the opportunity to implement the current best practice in the running of the national examinations by engaging non-serving teaching professionals to avoid conflict of interest.

The invigilation knowledge is gained through training and experience and BEC has engaged Degree and Diploma holders for this year's invigilation while in some institutions or countries they engage support staff, as is the case in some of the local tertiary institutions.

In the UK retired teachers are used. Further, BEC has no legal standing should it engage teachers only who could in turn opt out at the eleventh hour as a result of the 2009 High Court ruling that invigilation is not the core mandate of teachers.

In a separate interview, BTU concurred that there are cases where school heads and their deputies are taking part, but said only a few teachers are invigilating in the ongoing Form 5 exams.

He poured scorn on the situation, saying school heads and their deputies cannot run credible examinations with  retired teachers as invigilators while the majority of teachers are not participating.