In total, 111,056 school and private candidates passed the Form Six Examination in 2024, representing 99.43 percent. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
Dar es Salaam. The National
Examinations Council (NECTA) has nullified the results of 24 candidates
implicated in cheating during the 2024 exams, which included Form 6 and
teachers’ college candidates.
In addition to this, NECTA is
withholding the results of 326 candidates due to health-related issues that
prevented them from completing all their subjects.
This group comprises 304 candidates from the
Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE), 12 from the
Grade A Teachers Certificate Examination (GATCE), 1 from the Grade A Teacher
Course Special Examination (GATSCCE), and 9 from the Diploma in Secondary
Education Examination (DSEE).
The annulled results include 22 Form 6
candidates (17 school candidates and 5 private candidates), 1 from the GATSCCE,
and 1 from the DSEE. These cancellations were enforced under Section 5 (2)(i)
and (j) of the NECTA Act, Chapter 107, in conjunction with Section 30(2)(b) of
the Examination Regulations of 2016.
"Candidates who were unable to
complete their examinations due to illness will be allowed to sit for these
exams in 2025, as outlined in Section 32(1) of the Examination
Regulations," stated NECTA Executive Director Dr. Said Mohamed, during a press
conference in Unguja on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
The results revealed a pass rate of
between 96.84 percent and 100 percent in all subjects, except for Basic Applied
Mathematics (BAM), which had a pass rate of 77.55 percent.
However, the pass rate for BAM has
shown improvement, increasing by 9.02 percent compared to 2023. Over 66 percent
of candidates in subjects such as History, Geography, Kiswahili, Advanced
Mathematics, Economics, Commerce, and Accountancy achieved high grades (A to C,
equivalent to 60 to 100 marks).
Meanwhile, more than 50 percent of
candidates in subjects such as General Studies, English Language, Physics,
Chemistry, Biology, Agriculture, and Education earned average grades (D to E,
equivalent to 40 to 59 marks). For BAM, most candidates received grades ranging
from C to S (35 to 69 marks).
Advanced Mathematics saw 12.89 percent
of candidates earning grade A, followed by Accountancy at 3.90 percent and
Chemistry at 2.73 percent. Language subjects such as French, Chinese, and
Arabic boasted excellent pass rates between 96.84 percent and 100 percent,
despite a smaller candidate pool of 43 to 251 candidates.
In total, 111,056 school and private
candidates passed the Form Six Examination in 2024, representing 99.43 percent.
This included 49,837 female candidates (99.61 percent) and 61,219 male
candidates (99.28 percent). The overall pass rate increased by 0.20 percent
from 2023 when 104,549 candidates passed (99.23 percent).
Examination irregularities have been a
persistent challenge in Tanzania, affecting all levels of education from
primary schools to higher learning institutions. Instances of cheating,
bribery, and other forms of academic dishonesty have undermined the integrity
of the education system.
In response to these issues, the Ministry of
Education, led by Professor Adolf Mkenda, has implemented several measures
aimed at curbing these malpractices. Professor Mkenda has introduced stringent
regulations and robust monitoring systems to detect and prevent cheating during
examinations.
This includes the proposal to use of
technology such as CCTV cameras in examination centers, enhanced security
protocols to safeguard exam materials, and rigorous vetting processes for
examination officials.
Moreover, there are continuous
awareness campaigns targeting students, teachers, and parents about the
importance of academic integrity. These campaigns emphasize the long-term
benefits of honest education and the severe consequences of engaging in or supporting
examination fraud.
As well, the ministry has increased
support for teacher training programs to ensure that educators are
well-equipped to uphold and promote ethical standards within their classrooms.
Efforts are also being made to streamline the curriculum and assessment methods
to reduce the pressure on students, thereby discouraging the temptation to
cheat.
The initiatives launched by the
Ministry of Education in Tanzania are aimed at restoring trust in the
examination system and ensuring that academic qualifications accurately reflect
students' knowledge and skills.
With these measures in place,
there is an expectation that the frequency of examination irregularities will
significantly decline, leading to a more credible and respected education
system.
However, the quality of
education in Tanzania is challenged further by limited job opportunities in the
market. Educational experts, including Prof. Jovita Katabaro and Justinian
Galabawa, both retired from the University of Dar es Salaam, have highlighted
these issues in their recent papers.
Prof. Katabaro advocates for a comprehensive
overhaul of the education system to align it with the demands of the job
market. He states, “Without a curriculum that fosters practical skills and
critical thinking, graduates will continue to struggle to find employment.”
Galabawa echoes this sentiment,
noting, “There is a mismatch between the skills taught in schools and the
requirements of the labor market.” He suggests that the education system should
emphasize not only academic excellence but also incorporate vocational training
and entrepreneurship programs to prepare students for diverse career paths.
In response to these challenges,
the Ministry of Education is also focused on integrating more vocational and
technical training into the curriculum. This initiative aims to equip students
with the practical skills necessary to succeed in a competitive job market,
ensuring that education in Tanzania produces not only knowledgeable graduates
but also employable ones. The combined efforts to enhance academic integrity
and align education with market needs signal a promising future for Tanzania's
youth.