University students expelled for cheating

HUYE - The National University of Rwanda has dismissed and revoked academic transcripts of two third-year students for allegedly involving in examination malpractices for the last three years. Dr Bon Fils Safari, the University Director of Quality, said that the duo; Fred Mugabe and Augustin Murigande had been discontinued after investigation unearthed their scam.It is understood that Mugabe had been hired to do exams for his colleague Murigande for the last three years. “It is a shame that someone fails to study expecting someone else to write for him his examinations, this should send a clear message to all other students that we shall not tolerate any cases of cheating at the University,” Safari said. The two students who always sat next to each other during examinations are said to have been spotted exchanging answer booklets by a curious First year student who was in the same the examination room. He reported the incident to invigilators and a subsequent investigation by the faculty revealed a cheating scam spanning three years. “The disciplinary committee observed from the handwriting on several answers sheets from previous years, that Mugabe was writing examinations for Murigande,” Safari added. The two students are said to have confessed to the malpractice and appealed for pardon but authorities had different ideas, according to letters of dismissal seen by The New Times. “With reference to the NUR academic regulations article 47, 48 and 54 about handling cheating cases...I am writing to inform you that you have been permanently dismissed from NUR with immediate effect and all your transcripts for the three cheated years have been revoked,” a letter addressed to Murigande and signed by the Rector, Prof, Silas Lwakabamba reads in part. Commenting on the fate of Mugabe, the Director of Quality said that the student had to go because the regulations are clear on this. According to the University regulations, students who help or conspire or collude with someone to cheat shall be held equally guilty and shall receive the same penalty.’ “He was a bright student, it is difficult to understand how he could write two examinations in one sitting and still manage to score high,” Safari said. Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, Vice Rector in Charge of Finance and Administration, said that the university is working on improving on its examination supervision techniques to eliminate loopholes in the system. “This particular malpractice was reported by a student. This means invigilators have to do more in their examination supervision role if we are to root out this vice,” said Ndagijimana. Ends