E-MARKING SPOILER
In an effort to embrace technology and move on with the modern times, Botswana Examination Council is piloting its newly-introduced electronic marking system in the 2022 Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations.
Those that have been engaged by BEC for marking candidates’ scripts are using electronic devices for marking, not physically marking with a pen as it has been the case in the past.
BEC Chief Moreetsi Thobega revealed that the system allows markers to do their work from the comfort of their homes. They do not need to be gathered at marking centres to do their job and that is one of the reasons why this year, they decided that only Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School will be the marking venue for BGCSE.
However, because they are still testing the waters, only a few selected components of English Paper 2, Science Double Award Paper 3, 4, Commerce paper 2, 3, Accounting 1, 2 and Business Studies 1, 2 are marked electronically.
So far, five components out of the nine have been marked successfully and results are being uploaded. This is what gives BEC confidence that all is well with the system.
Dr Dorcas Morake, BEC’s Director of Examinations Administration and Certification added that they are still monitoring the system and cannot really say with confidence that all is going well but they are satisfied with the results so far.
She assured the public that all is well as what has changed is how marking is done and not anything else. There is still room for marking to be revised so that all is standardised and fair on all candidates.
BEC also assured the security of the system as watertight and the community should not be worried.
BEC intends to fully go online in future. At present, candidates are only writing physically then their scripts are sent to BEC where they undergo various verification processes, scanned and markers receive them in electronic form. All this is done with utmost diligent care.
Although Morake was not too sure about reduced costs for now, she said going electronic will surely cut costs associated with marking in future.
“We cannot talk about cost cutting for now because the machinery used for the electronic process is expensive but yes, in future we believe costs will be lower on our side,” she said.
Those that have been engaged by BEC for marking candidates’ scripts are using electronic devices for marking, not physically marking with a pen as it has been the case in the past.
BEC Chief Moreetsi Thobega revealed that the system allows markers to do their work from the comfort of their homes. They do not need to be gathered at marking centres to do their job and that is one of the reasons why this year, they decided that only Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School will be the marking venue for BGCSE.
However, because they are still testing the waters, only a few selected components of English Paper 2, Science Double Award Paper 3, 4, Commerce paper 2, 3, Accounting 1, 2 and Business Studies 1, 2 are marked electronically.
So far, five components out of the nine have been marked successfully and results are being uploaded. This is what gives BEC confidence that all is well with the system.
Dr Dorcas Morake, BEC’s Director of Examinations Administration and Certification added that they are still monitoring the system and cannot really say with confidence that all is going well but they are satisfied with the results so far.
She assured the public that all is well as what has changed is how marking is done and not anything else. There is still room for marking to be revised so that all is standardised and fair on all candidates.
BEC also assured the security of the system as watertight and the community should not be worried.
BEC intends to fully go online in future. At present, candidates are only writing physically then their scripts are sent to BEC where they undergo various verification processes, scanned and markers receive them in electronic form. All this is done with utmost diligent care.
Although Morake was not too sure about reduced costs for now, she said going electronic will surely cut costs associated with marking in future.
“We cannot talk about cost cutting for now because the machinery used for the electronic process is expensive but yes, in future we believe costs will be lower on our side,” she said.
