PS Calls for Integrity in the Moderation Exercise for the December 2024 TEVET Examination Series
Secretary for Labour, Chikondano Mussa, has called for high professionalism in the test moderation exercise for the December 2024 examination series for credible examinations.
The call was made on Wednesday when she opened a moderation session for 22 trades for the December 2024 TEVET examination series scheduled for 25th November to 13th December, 2024.
According to Mussa, the exercise is one of the quality assurance tools in assessment and certification processes, whose main purpose is to capture irregularities that might have been embedded in the draft question items from item setters.
“The importance of this moderation exercise cannot be overemphasized. As moderators, you must therefore endeavor to check whether the question items and their provisional answers are suitable, concise and technically correct. The ultimate goal in this exercise should be to produce measuring instruments that shall be able to discriminate and separate those that know from those that do not know the subject matter,” said Mussa.
The Ps further asked the team to ensure objectivity in their analysis and avoid cultural and gender biasness of items.
She has since urged them to accord the whole process with the highest level of concentration, and that the usual patience, enthusiasm, confidentiality and high level of integrity should be demonstrated.
Executive Director for the TEVET Authority, Elwin Chiwembu Sichiola, said their institutions’ remains committed to ensuring continued support and investments in the TEVET system which he said is a pathway for a lot of youths in the country.
The ED has also called for the highest level of integrity of the process saying it will contribute to the credibility of the exam.
Deputy Director for Technical and Vocational Training in the Ministry of Labour, Dhuya Mtawali, urged the participants to ensure that test items speak to the curriculum and that they truthfully measure the students’ competencies.
Assistant Labour Commissioner, responsible for Trade Test who also chairs TEVET examinations Assessment and Certification Unit, Joseph Chirombo, said the 44 member team will moderate 22 trades (Levels 1 to 3), where two trades will be assessed up to level four (Diploma).
As a quality assurance measure, an oath of secrecy will be administered, in a quest to enhance credibility of the exams. Participants in the moderation session have been drawn from technical colleges, industries and private companies.
