Exam leakage at Malawi College of Health Sciences

A leakage of final-year diploma in clinical medicine examinations at Malawi College of Health Sciences (MCHS), Lilongwe Campus, has delayed students’ graduation.

According to a source at the institution, a senior male member of the academic staff is believed to have leaked the examination papers in soft copy to a female student.

All final-year students at the college’s three campuses in Blantyre, Zomba and Lilongwe sat for their final examinations in October 2013 and were expected to graduate between November and December 2013, according to the source.

But as students and staff were waiting for the final examination results, news emerged that the college’s management was conducting investigations with students who were already at their homes after completing training because some examination papers had leaked.

This would also delay the deployment into the Ministry of Health of the 1 000-plus students who would have graduated in November or December 2013 at a time shortage of staff in the ministry is critical.

MCHS executive director Tennach Masache refused to comment on the matter last week, arguing “it is very confidential”.

Masache, despite reminders that MCHS is a public institution and, therefore, the public deserves to know what happened, insisted the matter is confidential and could not be discussed in the media.

But our source said: “The investigations were conducted through students’ e-mails and cellphones.

“The investigations culminated in college management recalling all final-year students in diploma clinical medicine of Lilongwe Campus to ask them to retake a surgery examination paper.

“Students had to come back again on January 8 2014 to retake the paper on January 9 and 10 2014. They are waiting for the results and [are expected to graduate] together with other students who completed training in March 2013.”

It is reported that the examination leaked in soft copy through a dental therapy student who showed it to another student who is pursuing a diploma in clinical medicine course.

“People are eagerly waiting to hear from college management the results of their investigations as to who exactly leaked the exams and what management will do with the culprit.

“If it is true that a member of staff leaked the examination papers, then it is unfortunate because this is not only irrational and unprofessional but also irresponsible and unethical.

“This malpractice has not only caused the college to incur extra expenditures but also puts the college’s image, credibility, trust and reputation into disrepute,” the source said.