The Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) has warned teachers involved in examination malpractice that they risk being de-registered if found wanting at the conclusion of the on-going investigations.

In a statement, Wednesday, TCZ spokesperson Ngoza Malonga stated that the council regretted the alleged involvement of some teachers in the leakage of examinations.

“TCZ greatly regrets the alleged involvement of some teachers in the leakage of examinations. Teachers who shall be found wanting at the conclusion of the on-going investigations of examination malpractice risk being deregistered by the Council as they shall be in breach of the Code of Ethics for the Teaching Profession and the Teaching Profession Act No. 5 of 2013,” she stated.

“Pursuant to regulation 9 (1), (2) and (3) of the Code of Ethics for the teaching profession;- (1) A teacher shall treat examination records and information at the teacher’s disposal confidentiality; (2) A teacher shall not aid or abet a person in an examination malpractice; (3) A teacher shall report to an appropriate authority, without delay, cases of examination malpractice that come to the teacher’s knowledge.”

She further listed teachers professional misconduct pursuant to section 46 (a), (b) (c), (d) and (e) of the Teaching Profession Act No. 5 of 2013.

“Furthermore, pursuant to section 46 (a), (b) (c), (d) and (e) of the Teaching Profession Act No. 5 of 2013, this would be professional misconduct. Under this section, a teacher commits professional misconduct if the teacher:-(a) contravenes the provisions of this Act; (b) engages in conduct that is dishonest, fraudulent or deceitful; (c) commits an offence under this Act or any other law and sentenced to imprisonment for a period exceeding six months without the option of a fine; (d) engages in any conduct that is prejudicial to the teaching profession or is likely to bring it into disrepute or (e) breaches the Code of Ethics or encourages another teacher to breach or disregard the principles of the Code of Ethics,” stated Ngoza.

“It is clear that examination malpractice tends to confer undue advantage or underserved grade to the perpetrators of the malpractice. It should be noted that examination malpractice may be committed by not only the candidates but also by teachers charged with the responsibility of examination management as evidenced in the current examination where *some* teachers are allegedly involved in this vice which is a very sad development. Such revelations provide tangible evidence of the urgent need for the Teaching Council of Zambia to keep up the pace in regulating the teaching profession.”

And Ngoza stated that the occurrence of examination malpractice posed a great threat to the validity and authenticity of credentials.

She added that TCZ remained committed to bringing sanity to the profession .

“The occurrence of examination malpractice at any level of education possess a great threat to the validity and authenticity of credentials. The TCZ therefore, remains committed to bringing sanity to the profession with the focus to protect the interests of parents, society and the nation at large. It is for this reason that TCZ strongly condemns the act of examination malpractice and we further wish to make it crystal clear that anyone in the profession with such unprofessional intentions shall be dealt with in order to preserve the integrity and the image of the teaching profession and the good efforts of Government,” stated Ngoza.

“We also wish to remind all teachers and school administrators to be alert at all times and to report any examination malpractice, failure to which shall be tantamount to professional misconduct. The TCZ pledges total support to uplifting the education standards by ensuring that only teachers who are morally upright and well qualified remain employed in both public and private schools including Colleges of Educatio