Government plans to set up a fast track court to deal with people involved in examination malpractices. Minister of General Education David Mabumba told Parliament yesterday that Government will sternly deal with anyone involved in examinations misconduct. He said Government is currently using various means to rid schools of examination abuses. Mr Mabumba said this in a ministerial statement on the release of external and general certificate of education examination results.

“The Ministry of General Education will engage the Judiciary over the matter so that examination malpractices are prosecuted timely,” he said. Mr Mabumba said the move will be part of strengthening legislation against examination misdeeds. He also said Government will increase the number of examination centres in the country to accommodate more candidates. Mr Mabumba said there was a sharp increase in the number of people who sat for examinations from 12,498 last year to 61,116 this year.

The minister said all suspicious examination results will be nullified. Mitete MP Misheck Mutelo (UPND) asked why there are more examination centres in urban areas than in rural areas. “There are no examinations centres in rural areas and the fees are exorbitant, so you are leaving rural girls behind,” Mr Mutelo asked. In response, Mr Mabumba said it is not true that there are few examination centres in rural areas because the centres are set up in accordance with the population of the area.

Chiengi MP Given Katuta (FDD) wondered why there are few examination centres in her constituency. “Mr Speaker, Government allocates centres in proportion to the number of people available in a particular area,” Mr Mabumba said. Meanwhile, Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Richard Musukwa told the House that Western Province has a huge potential in mineral wealth. Mr Musukwa said 30 mining companies are in Western Province exploring for minerals.

He said the province has deposits of iron, copper and gas, among others. Mr Musukwa named Anglo American as one of the companies doing explorations in the province. He also said mineral explorations are an expensive undertaking, the reason why Government facilitates for private sector involvement. Mr Musukwa was responding to a question by Kalabo Central Member of Parliament (MP) Chinga Miyutu, who wanted to know if Government has any plans to conduct mineral explorations in Western Province