Age sold out exam cheating teacher

THE Bulawayo Accounts and Mathematics private teacher who was allegedly caught writing an examination on behalf of an Ordinary Level candidate at the Methodist College in Makokoba was sold out by his age.

Edward Moyo (40) and Phephile Dlamini (29) were on Monday morning arrested after Moyo was caught writing the English Paper 1 examination for Dlamini.

Officials from the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) and the police intercepted Moyo during the examination after a tip-off from authorities at the college. The college's acting principal, Mrs Thenjiwe Mdlongwa, told Chronicle that they called Zimsec officials and the police after realising that Moyo was too old for the age indicated on "his" identity particulars.

"We arranged our candidates for the examination and we did our routine checks as usual. While we were verifying our candidates' particulars, we noticed that this candidate who looked much older had an identity card indicating that he was born in 1983," said Mrs Mdlongwa.

"We questioned his age but he insisted that he was born in the particular year. We did not ask any further questions and we let him write the exam.

"We thereafter alerted the Zimsec regional officer who sent officials from his office and also advised us to call the police.

They responded swiftly and the man was arrested."

Mrs Mdlongwa said both the teacher and the candidate were not known at the school.

"The candidate was external and the man who was writing the examination for him is not known at the school. Our college is a Christian institution and we will not tolerate such incidents that are meant to tarnish our image.

"We noticed that this man was cheating and we responded in the most professional way because we quietly called Zimsec and the police, who did their job without disturbing the other candidates," she said.

Meanwhile, Moyo and Dlamini were yesterday brought before a Bulawayo magistrate, Miss Marilyn Mutshina, who convicted Moyo of fraud and Dlamini of conspiracy.

The two heaved a sigh of relief when Miss Mutshina ordered each of them to perform 140 hours of community service.
Moyo, of 45 Sotshangane Flats and Dlamini, of House Number 32907 Entumbane, were convicted on their own plea.

Each was sentenced to eight months in prison of which half the sentence was conditionally suspended for five years.

The other half was suspended on condition that they perform community service with Moyo going to Jairos Jiri Centre while Dlamini would work at Entumbane Police Station.

Asked why he had committed the offence, Moyo said he was trying to help his friend who had failed English on numerous occasions.

"I am sorry and regret my actions. I will never do it again," said Moyo.

Dlamini, a security guard employed by the Bulawayo City Council, told the court that he had not prepared for the examination and that Moyo as his friend had offered to help him by writing the examination on his behalf.

Mr Masimba Saruwaka appeared for the State.