Entrance exam helps foil cheats

DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania's University of Dar es Salaam plans to introduce entrance examinations for all undergraduate applicants in an attempt to curb the use of fake secondary examination certificates.

However, the National Examinations Council of Tanzania has appealed to the government to stop the move, which it regards as an attempt to dent its local and international credibility.

Senior council officials said that under Tanzanian laws only the council has the mandate to set, mark and administer exams leading to the ordinary and advanced certificates of secondary education that enable students to enter the university. Both certificates are internationally recognised.

The university says that in 1997 more than 50 fake certificates were found. Last year 70 applicants seeking admission to study medicine, law, architecture, agriculture and commerce presented fake certificates. It also claimed cheating was rampant in examinations managed by the council. Cheating discovered in November 1998 forced the government to cancel the national secondary examinations and order them to be held in January.

The university will test applicants for proficiency in the English language and mathematics. They will also be tested on combinations of subjects they wish to study at the university.

Sources at the education ministry said it may persuade the university not to introduce the entrance tests. Council officials say the high failure rate has more to do with the forgery of certificates than examination standards. It says that the university could simply check the authenticity of certificates with them.

But Mr Saule said: "We are worried that academic standards might flop if we continue admitting students with fake or forged certificates."