BOSETU calls for BEC CEO’s resignation
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday October 17, 2023 06:00
The call for the CEO’s resignation follows a recent scandal where some Botswana General Certificate Secondary Education (BGCSE) examination papers were leaked before their scheduled sitting, an issue which has questioned the credibility of the BEC and disgraced the education system.
The scandal has since compelled BGCSE exams to be postponed to October 30, 2023, for BEC to carry out further investigations over the leaked examination papers.
In a press statement released yesterday, BOSETU said the CEO is an overall person with whom the buck stops, therefore he should resign. “All self-respecting executives who believe in accountability and taking responsibility for their organisations' actions or inactions would resign when the organisation they lead is faced with such a huge magnitude of scandalous ineptitude,” read the press release.
In their press statement, BOSETU indicated that the BEC CEO has presided over an institution that has continuously been riddled with controversies that have gone unabated under his watch, and such controversies, no doubt, have dented the institution's credibility. “In our view, the scenario foretasted points to a lack of leadership direction and guidance on the part of the CEO.
The BEC has, on several occasions, under the current CEO’s leadership, blatantly refused to engage trade unions within the education sector whose members are engaged by the BEC for external examination purposes, resulting in continuous disputes that have jeopardised the credibility of the final examinations.”
BOSETU called upon the Minister of Education and Skills Development, Douglas Letsholathebe to be decisive on this matter, step up to the plate, and remove the BEC CEO from office if the latter fails to resign.
The union also called on the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MESD) to initiate an independent inquiry into the problematic practice of leaking exam papers.
Furthermore, the secretary-general of BOSETU, Tobokani Rari expressed concern about the recurring issues, including examination leakages, poor examination setting standards, controversial invigilation, coursework assessment, and the marking and grading of final examinations.
'We call for stern action against BEC’s continuous scandalous and poor management of national final examinations following this week’s leakage of national final examination papers,' Rari stated.
He alleged that annually, towards the end of the year, the national examination process becomes embroiled in controversies that jeopardise the credibility of the examinations. These include disputes over coursework supervision and assessment, invigilation disagreements, and disputes during the marking of final examinations.
Rari expressed disappointment at BEC's poor management, stating that it contributed to the collapse of the education system. He raised questions about BEC's credibility and the extent of the leakages, stating that this trend has become a trademark of the examining body.
He remarked that the conclusion is that this year's examinations have been heavily compromised looking at the magnitude of the leakages. He added that this does not only raise credibility and professional issues but dents the quality and standard of national examinations in Botswana under the BEC.
“It must be noted that last year, the examining body yet again single handily, without consulting the stakeholders, being; parents, educators and students, decided to change the grading criterion for practical subjects by not using marks for the practical components for those subjects. This does not only disadvantage the innocent students but has the potential to destroy their prospects,” he said.
Rari said BEC has seriously dented the once high standards and reputation of Botswana education and examinations as the scandals are now endless, perennial, and annual.
“BEC remains aloof and immune to any advice, does not want to engage, and always acts like it is a law unto itself. We warn that if the management of BEC and its board cannot be reined in, the country’s examination integrity will degenerate into a complete collapse,” he said. He highlighted that despite warnings to the MESD regarding BEC's unprofessional conduct, the institution remains unresponsive and resistant to good practice guidance.