Secondary Four students on Monday, December 4, 2023, commence their final exams. (Photo: Awan Moses)

Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi has directed strict measures against malpractice during the ongoing Senior Four exams, including canceling papers and prosecution of any custodian caught aiding.

Abelbagi made the remarks as 45,000 students embark on their Certificate of Secondary Education examination across South Sudan starting on Monday.

He directed the Minister of General Education and Instruction to cancel any examinations suspected to have been compromised and to hold accountable anyone found aiding or abetting cheating.

Speaking during the ringing of bell at a school in Juba Monday, Abdelbagi urged the students to uphold honesty and integrity during the examinations.

“I hereby direct for serious measures including cancelation of examinations and prosecution of any custodian caught aiding and abetting cheating during examinations,” said the vice president.

Meanwhile, the Acting Minister of General Education and Instruction, Martin Tako, has denied claims that the secondary school examination is leaked as the student start marking their exams this morning.

“This year examination is going to be the most credible examination in our history. Nobody should deceive you that you will go to the classroom and find fake examination papers circulating in Juba town,” he said.

Recently, there have been reports circulating online that the secondary school examination for this year has been leaked.

But Mr. Tako urged students not to succumb to the temptation of using fake examination materials being circulated on the streets.

He said any student who will put his efforts on searching for and reading “fake examinations papers” will fail.

The acting education minister has also warned against any malpractice during the examinations.

“We want you to succeed because of your efforts, the efforts of your parents, the efforts of your headmaster and the efforts of the staff that’s very important.”

The candidates of the academic year 2023-2024 are taking exams on a range of subjects between December 4, and December 14, 2023.

Among the candidates are 28,000 males, 16,600 females, and also include 887 refugees.