Cheating epidemic: Tanzania’s deep-rooted crisis of academic dishonesty

According to them, the issue begins at lower levels of education, where some students' academic progress may not always be a true reflection of their abilities.

This, they say, has been creating difficulties for students in higher education institutions, who struggle to perform well in their studies without resorting to shortcuts.

On several occasions the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA), while announcing national examination results, has taken action against teachers, students, or exam supervisors found responsible for or involved in cheating.

Some schools may not be directly involved in exam malpractice, but they train students to excel in memorisation rather than in critical thinking skills.

As a result, when these students reach universities, they find themselves unable to cope.

"I propose a national debate. I have serious doubts. Some schools enable students to pass merely by memorising answers. Writing, understanding, and expressing themselves is a real struggle," says Fr Titus Amigu of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC).

He emphasises that earning an authentic division is more honourable than merely having a high division on paper.

He added that sometimes, a student who scores Division III in a seminary may be far better than the one who attains Division I from another ‘famous’ institution.

According to him, universities are where the embarrassment unfolds.

"The decline in education is resounding. Nowadays, complaints are heard in nearly all universities in Tanzania. Students barely know anything beyond singing and excessively engaging in modern music," he said.

He explained that students who excelled in lower education levels with high grades become passive once they join university classrooms, resembling O-level students in their approach to learning.

"It is utterly cold! There is no stimulation of critical thinking. If you ask the students questions, they become completely timid. Many remain silent," he notes.

According to Fr Amigu, when a lecturer speaks in English for 20 minutes straight, students complain to the university administration that the lecturer does not mix English with Kiswahili, which makes it difficult for them to understand.

Even when the lecture is delivered in Kiswahili, the problem persists. 

"During exams, these same students are frequently caught cheating, and some end up being expelled. The question remains: Where do those who score Division I (at lower levels) disappear to?” 

The issue does not end with academics alone; even in the job market, performance does not match the qualifications people obtain," he said.

This is supported by examination expert Thompson Buberwa, who said, "Our education system has become overly focused on rote learning. Some schools aim to achieve excellent results to maintain and sustain their businesses, so they use various tricks to accomplish their goals."

He said that in recent years, the government has made efforts to curb academic dishonesty, but there are still many students who pass through dishonest means and struggle when they reach higher education levels.

"There are many students who perform well throughout their education, but there is also a group that uses shortcuts to reach universities. This issue needs to be addressed to preserve the integrity of our universities," he added.

The Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda, has repeatedly condemned academic dishonesty at all levels of education, including universities, stressing that the government cannot interfere in university affairs but strongly encourages strict measures against such students.

"Cheating and attempts to cheat exist worldwide. The key issue is the strategies used to prevent academic dishonesty. While we are making progress, every time we hear allegations, we take them very seriously," he said recently after reports surfaced regarding exam malpractice in some universities.

He emphasised that the government will not interfere with university autonomy and revealed that some individuals have been convicted of exam fraud.

"Universities have their mechanisms for managing exams. If a student cheats in a university exam, they are expelled," he said.

He reassured Tanzanians that universities in the country uphold ethical and professional standards, particularly in examinations, to ensure that degrees are awarded according to academically accepted procedures.

Just recently, a total of 121 students from UDOM were discontinued from their studies in the 2023/24 academic year over tampering with examination results.

Fifteen other cases remain under investigation, according to a statement from the UDOM's Communication and Marketing Unit this week.

Some 170 students were initially suspected of manipulating the university’s results system (SR2) during the 2023/24 academic year.

 The university emphasised its commitment to upholding academic integrity, stating that all actions taken were in line with its examination policies and aimed at maintaining educational standards.