EASTERN PROVINCE

KAYONZA — Two teachers have been arrested in Kayonza District allegedly for cheating Primary Leaving Exams (PLE) that were concluded Wednesday.

The District’s Director of Education, Francine Nyirandoreyaho, confirmed on Wednesday that Anasthase Kanyarufunzo, a teacher at Rweza Primary School, and Jacques Muhungura, a teacher at Kabangire Protestant Primary School, were arrested Tuesday by security personnel and detained at Rukara Police station.

Nyirandoreyaho said that the former was found involved in a cheating scam involving two pupils of Rwinceke Primary School, at Rwamanyoni primary school examination centre, while the latter is alleged to have been cheating for a pupil of Rukara Catholique Primary School.

She said however, that the teachers denied the charges, saying they were just helping the students as they were requested, although it is not acceptable for a teacher to get closer to a pupil while doing an exam.

Meanwhile, the Kayonza vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Anita Mutesi who is also the exams supervisor, said that the entire process has been smooth, except for the two teachers who were arrested.

"Apart from the two, up to today (Wednesday) no similar case has been reported. We hope that it will continue being successful,” Mutesi said.

She explained that teachers and other exam officials had been warned against exam malpractices and they restricted teachers from supervising exams in schools where they teach.

Mutesi observed that it was surprising for teachers to cheat exams for pupils of other schools.

"It is a shame to see that pupils don’t cheat but teachers go ahead to engage them into the act. It destroys the image of teachers and the country,” she pointed out.

There are 62 primary schools in Kayonza, with 18 examination centers. A total of 3942 pupils registered for the exams. The number of pupils who missed the exams was yet to be established. Mutesi said all exams started on time. 

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