The incidents of cheating and examination leakages have often been reported. Under such circumstances bright candidates have been left behind and less gifted students been selected instead. Do you think examinations are the only way to judge a candidate’s/student’s intelligence?

NO. I think examinations are not the only way of judging a student’s intelligence. I think a better way of getting the best students or candidates is by continuous assessments. However, one has to be suspicious whenever a less bright candidate suddenly performs outstandingly well in the final examinations bearing in mind the presence of exam fever. But I think time has now come for a student to be critically assessed in terms of performance from the first day in school to the final exams.
Elias Gabriel – Civil Servant.
 
YES. I think the only way of judging a student’s intelligence is through examinations. This is in accordance with the education system we inherited from the colonialists. Also this is because no one can be employed if he or she did not perform well in the final exams. Had we opted for a different education system that gives priority to terminal exams it would have been easy to identify those who cheat. But in some cases, bright students fail final exams because of fear and panic. Nevertheless, we should give credit to the ones who pass as they manage to cope with examination anxieties.
Bertha Kimansulu – Teacher.
 
NO. I think final examinations or rather exams in general are not a good measurement of judging someone’s intelligence. It is now common that some university students fail in some subjects. A good example is the bog percentage of law students at university failing the English language test. Previously such a thing could happen in secondary or middle school but not at university. It means cheating or corruption before tertiary level is rampant. I think the only solution is to abandon exams and introduce assessment throughout the school period.
Elikana Mkwama – Medical Officer.
 
NO. Although that is what is being practiced in out country, I don’t think examinations are the only way to judge someone’s intelligence. I suggest that when a student is in form one, for example, the monthly, or terminal examination marks should carry a higher percentage; let’s say 75 per cent and the final exams should carry the remaining 25 per cent. In this way, it would be easier to catch those who cheat, as they will have fewer marks. I am of the opinion that the government should introduce a new system and include this way of examining a student.
Mzee Andrea Msingi – Nursing Officer (rtd).

Compiled by Timothy Kitundu.