Exams and Invigilation

This blog was originally written in early June, but I had computer problems, so it is being posted now.

Terminal Exams are here as the term ends this Saturday. The students will then have six weeks off. They need to take exams in religion, English, civics, mathematics, biology, geography, physics, history, chemistry, Swahili, and agriculture. Each exam is three hours long and must be “invigilated” by a teacher. Cheating is like a game here, and the students try as best they can to give and receive answers from each other, and bring notes into the exam. Teachers inspect them before entering the examination room, and then watch them like hawks to try to catch them cheating. I think that I am pretty poor at invigilating. I have only caught one person cheating, and she was a nun. What is really amazing though, is all the information that the students actually know, and all in a language that is new to them. Except for Swahili, the exams are in English, as the instruction is supposed to be in English. Most teachers at this school do about half English and half Swahili. Since English is my native language, I teach mostly in English, but when I see blank looks on the students’ faces, I will do my best to explain in my poor Swahili. It seems to be enough for most students to understand. I do not enjoy invigilating, as it is really boring. Actually, I am writing this blog while constantly being on the lookout for any sign of cheating.