MASERU – Eight students were on Monday caught red-handed while allegedly writing national exams on behalf of their friends.
Among those arrested were five students from the National University of Lesotho’s (NUL) Faculty of Science and Technology.
The students sat for the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (COSC) Mathematics exam at the Examinations Council of Lesotho centre in Khubetsoana.
Students who pass the COSC exams qualify for university studies locally and abroad. The eight were arrested an hour into the exam following a tip-off to the exam council authorities.
An official at the exam council told the Lesotho Times that they had received a tip-off last week that some university students were fraudulently sitting for national exams on behalf of their friends.
A trap was set up leading to the arrest of the suspected culprits on Monday.
An eye-witness told the Lesotho Times that there was commotion at the exam council offices after the police stormed the complex.
Two university students were arrested during the initial search after they were caught using fake identification documents.
The students told the police that they were not alone leading to the arrest of their colleagues who were in the examination room.
It was not immediately clear on whose behalf the university students were writing the exams.
The acting chief education curriculum officer, Nkopane Ramaphiri, said they were still investigation the scandal.
He said a decision on the status of the examination would hinge on the outcome of the court case.
The dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at NUL, Dr Sepiriti Tlali, said he was not aware of the matter.
“The university will conduct its own investigations. But if our students were involved in the matter we are really disappointed,” Dr Tlali said.
Those arrested were Malefa Mapena,’Malephole Sekhopa, Teboho Setlhatsane, Moeketsi Kholuoe, Seotsa Kholuoe, Thabiso Lehana, Tsepo Masitho and Anthony Ssagala.
The eight appeared in court yesterday charged with fraud. Their case was set for hearing tomorrow.
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