A HEADMASTER at Vengwe Primary School in Mberengwa who instructed his teachers to write Grade 7 November exams on behalf of some pupils escaped a custodial sentence when the case wrapped up last week. ALLIEWAY NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT
Samuel Chuma (49) and his subordinate Kenneth Sibanda (41) of Mdluli village under Chief Bangwe were found guilty of contravening the Zimbabwe School Examinations Act and instructed to pay a fine of $200 and $250 respectively when they appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Peter Madiba.
In passing sentence Madiba said the two were going to lose their jobs, hence a fine was justifiable and in case the two failed to pay, they would face four and five-month imprisonment terms respectively.
The State represented by Stanley Ncube told the court that in October 2014, Chuma took some answer sheets and gave them to Sibanda, who wrote the Grade 7 English Paper Two for some pupils.
Chuma is said to have used the same method to write exams for pupils at his school in other subjects.
The matter came to light during marking of the examinations in Gweru when some of the markers discovered inconsistences in the performance of the pupils and the varied handwritings.
The matter was reported to the senior Zimsec authorities who made investigations into the matter. It was discovered that Chuma had connived with some teachers to write exams for the pupils.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the two.
