The Uganda National Examination’s Board (UNEB) has issued a warning to parents and candidates about fake exam papers being circulated as a form of cheating.
This warning came during an official briefing at the Uganda Media Center, just before the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams scheduled for October 16, 2023.
The UNEB Chairman, mentioned that some dishonest individuals are sharing what they claim are real exam papers through WhatsApp groups. They might call them “blueprints” or “greenprints,” implying that one of them will be the actual exam paper.
Odongo explained that fraudsters create these WhatsApp groups and falsely claim to have access to the exam papers. They deceive people into paying for these fake papers.
“Normally when exams are about to start, we have a number of fraudsters who start up whatsapp groups and begin sharing what they call exams. They claim to have set one and two, recently they have started naming their products as blue print and the gullible members of the public are duped into paying.” he said
However, he clarified that it’s essential to understand that UNEB staff do not have access to these papers, as this would be against the law.
Under the new UNEB Act, it’s a crime to deliberately try to obtain exam papers or information, with penalties of up to a 40 million shilling fine or up to five years in jail. The law also punishes those who help students get exam materials unlawfully with fines of up to 20 million shillings or up to five years in jail.
UNEB is urging the public to report any suspicions of cheating, and if their claims are verified, they may receive a reward.
To prevent cheating, UNEB will have a significant presence of police officers 1036, 1113 scouts, and other monitors during the exams.
UNEB acknowledges that there have been problems with the distribution of exams to schools, which sometimes leads to cheating at exam centers. Cheating includes having someone else take an exam for a student, teachers providing answers, and students attempting to copy.
UNEB advises schools to ensure students are well-informed about exam rules and schedules.
The police are preparing to prevent cheating and investigate any wrongdoing.
UNEB is also reminding schools and parents to clear any unpaid school fees before the exams begin. Students with outstanding fees can still take the exams, but they won’t receive their results until their fees are paid.
In Uganda, over 1.2 million students will be taking exams starting on October 16 and lasting until December.