Top private school investigated for premature opening of exams

The Zimbabwe Schools' Examination Council (Zimsec) is investigating how students at the Midlands Christian College (MCC) in Gweru ended up writing their November 2016 English Ordinary level paper 2 at 9am instead of 2pm that was on the timetable.

The school may now be charged with premature opening of exams.
Sources told The Mirror that the school went into panic mode when authorities realised there was a mix-up and this was long after the students had started writing.

It was not clear how a whole school including the candidates who get timetables months before the exams could all get into such a mix-up.

MCC head Daniel Pswarai confirmed that he authorised the sitting of that examination but referred all questions to Zimsec.

According to Zimsec timetable the examination was supposed to be written on November 3, 2016 at 2pm but at MCC the students set for the exam at 9am.

The Mirror contacted Zimsec Public Relation Officer Nicky Dlamini who confirmed the incident and said that Zimsec is still investigating the matter.

"Yes we have received reports that 'O' level students at MCC wrote English Paper 2 in the morning when on our timetable the paper was supposed to be written at 2pm.

"The incident did not affect the examinations process because the school isolated the group for the whole day so the kids had no contact with anyone," said Dlamini

"For a comment please go and see the Assistant Administration of Exams because he came here the time the incident happened. We have also written full reports of what happened so l am sure he will be able to talk on behalf of the school," said Pswarai.

Dlamini said that there was a case of premature opening of exams and in this case they will investigate what really transpired.

"Sometimes there is premature opening of exams at schools but on this case I cannot really say what happened until investigations are done.

"What l can say is the school has a Zimsec timetable, they know what time and date any examinations are written. I don't really know whether this was negligence or not but we are investigating," said Dlamini.