News / National
Headmaster arrested for writing O'level exams for pupils
18 Sep 2013 at 10:49hrs | Views
A headmaster from Gokwe has been arrested for allegedly writing an Ordinary Level Mathematics examination paper on behalf of candidates for a fee in November last year.
Bitone Shoko (37), the headmaster of Mhumha Secondary School was allegedly charging his victims between $150 and $200 each for the exam.
He was arrested after allegedly writing the Mathematics Paper Two examination paper for six candidates.
Shoko recently appeared before Gokwe resident magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja charged with six counts of fraud.
This was after he solicited for the money from Tongai Mabhande, Rachael Mahwerera, Takawira Tafadzwa, Netsai Nyangai, Paradzai Dzidzai and Lynia Mbayimbayi who had registered for the November general examination.
The six had allegedly given Shoko a combined $900.
Shoko, who is out of custody on $200 bail, has not been formally charged with the offence. He was supposed to appear for start of trial yesterday but defaulted.
The court issued a warrant of arrest against him.
It is alleged that in July last year, Shoko was approached by Mabhande, a private candidate who wanted help with extra lessons for Mathematics.
The court was told that Shoko solicited for $150 so that he could write the examination on his behalf, and he was allegedly given the money.
Shoko allegedly instructed Mabhande to come to the school on the day of the examination and write the paper just like other candidates. The court was told that Shoko made the same arrangement with the other five candidates who also allegedly paid him.
It is alleged that on 8 November last year the six candidates who had all given Shoko the money, wrote Mathematics Paper 2 examination and submitted their scripts.
The court was told that Shoko, taking advantage that he had access to the scripts as the headmaster, replaced his victims' scripts with the ones he had written himself.
The offence came to light when Zimsec examination markers noticed that the handwriting on all the six candidates' answer sheets were similar. Further investigations by the markers also showed that besides being identical in terms of the handwriting, the scripts were written in the same layout.
A report was made to the police leading to some investigations which culminated in the arrest of Shoko. Mr Robert Ndlala is representing the State.
Bitone Shoko (37), the headmaster of Mhumha Secondary School was allegedly charging his victims between $150 and $200 each for the exam.
He was arrested after allegedly writing the Mathematics Paper Two examination paper for six candidates.
Shoko recently appeared before Gokwe resident magistrate Mr Shepherd Mjanja charged with six counts of fraud.
This was after he solicited for the money from Tongai Mabhande, Rachael Mahwerera, Takawira Tafadzwa, Netsai Nyangai, Paradzai Dzidzai and Lynia Mbayimbayi who had registered for the November general examination.
The six had allegedly given Shoko a combined $900.
Shoko, who is out of custody on $200 bail, has not been formally charged with the offence. He was supposed to appear for start of trial yesterday but defaulted.
It is alleged that in July last year, Shoko was approached by Mabhande, a private candidate who wanted help with extra lessons for Mathematics.
The court was told that Shoko solicited for $150 so that he could write the examination on his behalf, and he was allegedly given the money.
Shoko allegedly instructed Mabhande to come to the school on the day of the examination and write the paper just like other candidates. The court was told that Shoko made the same arrangement with the other five candidates who also allegedly paid him.
It is alleged that on 8 November last year the six candidates who had all given Shoko the money, wrote Mathematics Paper 2 examination and submitted their scripts.
The court was told that Shoko, taking advantage that he had access to the scripts as the headmaster, replaced his victims' scripts with the ones he had written himself.
The offence came to light when Zimsec examination markers noticed that the handwriting on all the six candidates' answer sheets were similar. Further investigations by the markers also showed that besides being identical in terms of the handwriting, the scripts were written in the same layout.
A report was made to the police leading to some investigations which culminated in the arrest of Shoko. Mr Robert Ndlala is representing the State.
Source - Byo24News
