2014-01-23Mathias Haufiku RUNDU - The Ministry of Education is probing allegations a Grade 12 teacher in Rundu leaked answers to learners during last year’s final examinations. It is alleged the male teacher at Elia Neromba Senior Secondary School in Rundu, known to this newspaper but who cannot be named at this point, teaches mathematics and is alleged to have leaked answers to 58 learners. The results of the 58 learners have since been withheld pending the outcome of the investigation. It also appears some of the answers reportedly leaked to the learners were incorrect, according to some members of the investigating team, who visited Rundu last week. The Directorate of National Examinations and Assessment (DNEA) is spearheading the probe. An investigating team, led by the DNEA’s Chief Education Officer, Elizabeth Mutuku was in Rundu the whole of last week to determine what happened and to ascertain the extent of the alleged breach. The Kavango regional education directorate also assisted with the investigation. DNEA Director, Cavin Nyambe, told New Era yesterday that he is yet to receive a formal report from the investigating team. “Since the colleagues returned from Rundu they are yet to give me a written report, it was only done informally,” confirmed Nyambe. “The group interviewed the implicated learners, but most of the learners are reluctant to reveal what really happened. The teacher is denying having invigilated on that day,” said one of the officials who formed part of the investigating team. The official said the accused teacher continues to teach pending the outcome of the investigation. “If he is found guilty, there is a likelihood that he will lose his job,” he said. “The results of the learners have been withheld, and chances are very high that their results will be nullified if the investigation proves that there were irregularities,” the official indicated. National examination rules stipulate that a teacher may under no circumstances invigilate the subject that he or she teaches. It seems the teacher was appointed to invigilate the subject, because there were not enough invigilators invigilators, the official said. On Tuesday, Kavango Regional Education Deputy Director, Fanuel Kapapero also confirmed an investigating team from DNEA conducted an investigation into the matter last week. “I can confirm that the investigations were done and that the results for 58 learners implicated have been withheld,” Kapapero said. “They [the investigating team] interviewed the learners, teachers, head of centre and the invigilator. They briefed me. They will submit the report to the malpractice committee in the ministry who will then make a recommendation to the permanent secretary as to what must happen to the implicated learners and teacher,” Kapapero told New Era. By Mathias Haufiku 2014-01-23Mathias Haufiku
