Two primary teachers to pay shs5m each for vending PLE papers online
Two primary teachers have been fined shs5 million each after pleading guilty to vending Primary Leaving Examination papers online.
Vincent Muheeki, a teacher at Vision Primary School in Ibanda, Albert Pabeku, a teacher at Stone Ridge Primary School in Kira in Wakiso district were on Thursday sentenced to a fine and in case of failure to pay , they are to serve 14 months imprisonment.
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Kira grade one magistrate, Ivan Sseguya said whereas the maximum punishment for the offence of possession of examination materials or information contrary to section 25(1) of the UNEB Act 2021 is five years imprisonment or a fine of shs20 million or both on conviction, he had opted for a non-custodial since these are first offenders.
“This offence directly touches the integrity of our national exams . Primary Leaving Examinations lay a firm foundation for future professionals of this country. If future professionals are corrupted at a young stage through dubious activities of people like you, I am certain there will be a menace in the professional sphere in the future,” Sseguya said.
“As such the sanctity of our national exams should be jealously protected by imposing punishment on those who interfere with our exams like you. I agree with the state that the two of you are teachers who should aim at setting out good examples to our children instead of corrupting their minds through cheating.”
He told the duo that they have a right to appeal to the High Court in 14 days in case they are not satisfied with the conviction and sentence.
The two other teachers who were jointly charged with the convicts however changed their pleas to deny the charges.
They will return to court on 14.
