What next for Standard 7 finalists after annulment of results?

Dar es Salaam. All is not lost for more than 2,000 Standard Seven pupils whose examination results have been annulled because they can still sit next year’s examination as private candidates.

Parents and guardians of those affected found themselves pondering their children’s future after results of this year’s Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) were announced, with some not knowing the available options following the annulment.

The National Examinations Council of Tanzania (Necta) announced the annulment of all results of 2,194 candidates due to cheating.

This is equivalent to 0.16 percent of the 1,350,881 candidates who sat the examination.

Necta also suspended 24 examination centres, equivalent to 0.13 percent of the 17,935 centres nationwide, on the grounds of planning and facilitating cheating during the examination.

The annulment of results was received with shock by some parents who spoke to The Citizen yesterday.

Mr Juma Abdul, 44, a resident of Tanga Region, and whose son is among those whose results were nullified, said he did not know what to do.

“I’m absolutely devastated. I expected my son to do well even without cheating. I believe teachers at the affected examination centres are to blame for this mess. We are worried about our children’s future,” he said by telephone.

Ms Lucy Mtalemwa of Chato District, Geita Region, said, “I was shocked when I heard that my son’s results have been annulled. However, Necta has the mandate to make such decisions. Schools should stop polluting children’s minds. I have no option now, but to find an alternative way of helping my son, most likely by preparing him to sit next year’s examination as a private candidate,” she said.

Necta acting executive secretary Athumani Amasi said the affected candidates could still continue with their education.

“These pupils are still recognised because their registration has not been cancelled. Their results have been annulled because those are not really their results. They can go to private schools, take an exam, pass, and continue to other levels of education,” he said.

On complaints that pupils were being punished for what essentially is fraud committed by other people, Mr Amasi noted that this was one way of teaching them “that stealing is a sin”.

“That’s why we penalise them, but we don’t cancel their registration so that they can still opt for private candidacy.

“Examination regulations have clearly specified the procedure for conducting examinations, and fraud may be committed by a pupil, but where the examination centre is suspended, it means that it has been found to have committed organised crime by finding answers and giving them to candidates,” he said.

Mr Amasi also revealed that Necta has withheld the results of 540 candidates from six examination centres in Dar es Salaam Region.

“They will have to wait until investigations are concluded, and if they are found to have cheated, their results will be nullified in line with the law. If it will be established that they did not cheat, their results will be released,” he said.

Dr James Sigunda, an education expert, said the punishment is meant to hold the perpetrators to account.

He added, however, that the affected pupils have other alternatives.

“This punishment is particularly bad for teachers, exam invigilators, and others, who can lose their jobs, or even be jailed, unlike pupils who can resit examinations as private candidates,” he noted.

Over 1 million pass

At least 79.62 percent of candidates who sat this year’s PSLE passed, according to Necta.

This represents a total of 1,073,402 candidates out of 1,348,073 who attempted the examination on October 5 and 6.

Mr Amasi said 558,825 of the successful candidates were girls and 514,577 boys.

“In 2021, 907,802 candidates passed, equivalent to 81.97 percent. Thus, statistically, there is a 2.35 percent decrease in performance, although the number of successful candidates has increased by 165,600 compared to 2021,” he said.

This year, a total of 1,384,186 candidates were registered to take the examination, comprising 723,027 girls (52.23 percent) and 661,159 boys (47.77 percent). Of this number, 4,221 candidates (0. 30 percent) had special needs.

A total of 1,350,881 candidates (97.59 percent) of those registered sat the examination. Among them, girls were 709,556 (98.14 percent) and 641,325 (97.00 percent) were boys.

Some 33,305 candidates (2.41 percent) did not write the examination due to various reasons, including absenteeism and illness. Absentees comprised 13,471 and 19,834 girls and boys, respectively.