Police warns exam cheats

Kanengo Police Station in Lilongwe on Tuesday engaged an extra gear in its anti-examination cheating campaign ahead of Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examinations.

Speaking in an interview Kanengo Police Station spokesperson Laban Makalani said a team of police officers led by the station’s child protection officer George Kamtondo has been visiting primary schools to sensitise PLSCE candidates to the evils of examination cheating.

“Kanengo Police in conjunction with the Malawi National Examinations Board [Maneb] has set up covert strategies aimed at curbing cheating and exam leakage,” he said.

Dubbed School Outreach Programme, Makalani said the initiative warns candidates against violating Maneb Conduct of Examination Regulation 29(20) which prohibits entering into an examination room with reference materials commonly known as likasa.

“During the sensitisation campaign, officers encourage pupils to work hard in class and to desist from indulging in drugs and substance abuse in order to escape cheating temptations during the coming exam,” he said.

The School Outreach Programme team also enlightens pupils that examination malpractices attract a K50 000 fine and two years imprisonment for candidates while non-candidates face up to K300 000 fine and 10 years imprisonment upon conviction.

So far, the team has visited Chimpumbulu, Chitukula, Dzenza, Malembe, Good Hope, JEB, Chikanda, Madzimnyanga, Chiuzimbi, Kabwabwa, Kalambo, Mvunguti, and Chipala primary schools.

Standard 8 pupils will sit for examinations from May 16 to 19. n