OBC dismiss leaked exam allegations

Calls for rigorous investigations into the leak of high school test papers have been made by the director of the Office of Baccalaureate of Cameroon.

In front of the press on Thursday, Zacharie Mbatsogo said he was surprised by this information and was quick to dismiss allegations made by daily newspaper Le Jour, that copies of the tests were circulated to schools in Yaoundé, Mbalmayo and Bafang 48 hours before the examination.

He said: "We treat our test papers with great care and we surround them with a lot of security when sending them to the ground. And when they are provided to the examination centres the CBO is always aware of what is happening. So you understand why we are as surprised as you are by the information revealed in Le Jour."

In lines with the old proverb, no smoke without fire, the director of OBC indicates having led his small inquiry before meeting the press.

"I joined the telephone with the Regional Delegate of Secondary Education West and a representative officer in the city of Bafang. My colleagues in turn contacted the Departmental Delegate of Upper Nkam. According to their statements and investigations, it is likely that the daily was misinformed,” he assured.

Adding that in the central region, where it was said candidates handled philosophy and mathematics tests well before entering the exam room, the regional delegate and departmental delegate of Nyong-et-So'o are just as surprised by the news.

It leaves a question mark over the credibility of the teacher and student testimonies which the newspaper based its findings.

The CBO director acknowledges that "information gleaned here and there makes us believe that the water, if it has actually sank as indicated by Le Jour, is dirty." This is a phenomenon that he says has blocked the road for a decade.

Whether students were given false or genuine tests before the exam or not, Mbatsogo has arranged for investigations to be made. Pending the much anticipated results, which are to be made public in due course, the 2014 examination period will continue hoping not to be disturbed by any more rumours which plagued the OBC in 2011.