Unam’s Vacuum For Cheating

ALLOW me space in your newspaper to share my observation with the nation. My main concern is on how the University of Namibia conducts assessments.

With assessments I mean the tests that lecturers are giving to students in different disciplines. What I have observed is that many non-students are writing tests for University students across all faculties. The weak point in this whole situation is poor control of students during test writing. In this I mean when students come for a test they don’t identify themselves to the lecturer or the invigilators giving the test (I am not talking about the exams, but about the tests). This already creates a vacuum for cheating. I would like to humbly request Prof Mwendemele (PVC academic affairs) to sensitise lecturers regarding this issue with serious demand, as the quality of the University programmes will erode. In this aspect I acknowledge those students who are doing their work on their own and those are the people who are doing well in the workforce upon completion of the studies.It is quite clear of what employers in the private sector are saying with regard the capacity of the University of Namibia and Poly graduates failing to cope with private work demands. The whole problem is derived from poor assessment management of Unam. Students are able to pass with high marks on paper but the marks are not legitimately their own. This is happening and if the University management is not seeing this, then it is a serious problem. The quality of UNAM programmes is fading away through this wrong and unaccepted practice.The other aspect concerns assignment writing – many Unam and Poly students use people from Zimbabwe (so called consultants) to write assignments for them. This is very dangerous for the country and it must be seriously discouraged. Our country needs high quality skilled human resource to fight an economic war in order to liberate our country economically. There is nothing wrong with assisting a student to do his/her assignment, but it is bad to write an assignment for the student. By the end of four years of study the student has learned nothing and what do you expect that graduate to offer to the public as a result?It is important to note that every programme a student does needs technical understanding to effectively apply the learnt knowledge to the needy people (our youth in schools and also communities).Therefore, we need to discourage in our country the aspect of cheating of University of Namibia and Poly students if we want to win our economic war.RecommendationsHigh security during test and examination sessions;Students should produce identity documents and student cards before entering the exam or test room. This is very important.Assignment monitoring (this aspect is very important where the University should find a strong mechanism to eliminate cheating);A test is also an assessment tool that will contribute to the passing of a student. When a test is to be administered to a class of students, examination rules as they stand should be applied.Reduce overcrowding in classes as this gives an opportunity for students to cheat using already prepared notes and monitoring is weakened.I hope the nation takes my point.ConcernedVia e-mailNote: Name and address provided – Ed