SOCIAL media platforms were buzzing this week of a purported leak of a Zimsec Ordinary Level Mathematics paper 1 in Harare and Bulawayo.
The social media messages date back to last month, when they were initially rubbished by the country’s public examinations body.
Zimsec Public Relations Manager Nicky Dlamini rubbished the claims and described them as a scam targeting people who wanted to cheat the system, saying the Zimsec security team had confirmed that no paper had leaked.
“Good day, Zimsec is aware of the image with purported 2022 exam papers on sale. The Security department of the Council has verified that these are fake papers being sold in an attempt to defraud those who purchase them,” said Dlamini in September.
However, on Tuesday Zimsec issued a statement confirming that the O’Level Maths Paper (4004/1) had leaked.
The statement from Zimsec reads:
“The Zimbabwe school examinations council would like to alert its valued stakeholders that reports have been received that there are candidates who had pre-access to the Ordinary Level Maths paper 1 which was written this morning 18 October 2022.
Zimsec, the ministry of primary and secondary education and the Zimbabwe Republic police are investigating the leakage and have already identified some candidates who had pre-access to the question paper and are currently tracking down the source(s) where the papers originated.
The extent of the leakage is yet to be ascertained, after which the relevant authorities will make an informed decision on the administration of this paper. We urge the stakeholders of examinations in Zimbabwe to guard jealously the integrity of our examinations. Police forensic laboratory is on high alert to reveal anyone who is sending or receiving the question papers therefore candidates are warned to refrain from participating in this malpractice so as to avoid cancellation of results due to collusion,” reads the statement from Zimsec.
Last month, social media was awash with posts of leaked Ordinary level exam papers which were being apparently sold from Construction House in Harare.
