Cameroon’s Secondary Education Minister Prof. Pauline Nalova Lyonga has defended the postponement of GCE examination papers, describing the decision as a necessary step to preserve the credibility of the national examination system after allegations of leaked questions.
The minister said the move was guided by evidence and consultations with examination officials, stressing that the priority was to protect standards rather than disrupt the academic calendar.
“Examinations must be conducted under strict confidentiality,” she said, warning that any advance circulation of exam materials undermines fairness for all candidates.
According to the ministry, concerns were raised after indications that some candidates may have accessed examination content before sitting for the papers, prompting urgent intervention to prevent further compromise of the process.
“The decision to intervene was based on evidence and consultations with relevant authorities and exam supervisors,” the ministry stated.
Prof. Nalova Lyonga, speaking on the controversy, insisted that the postponement was unavoidable given what she described as credible signs of a breach within the system.
“I was there myself. I saw the evidence,” she said, adding that both physical and electronic materials were reportedly involved.
She further defended the integrity of the decision-making process, arguing that postponing the papers was preferable to allowing an already compromised examination to proceed.
“What kind of exam is that where everybody knows the questions before writing?” she asked, describing the situation as unacceptable for any credible assessment system.
The minister also dismissed suggestions that external actors were responsible for the leak, instead pointing to internal vulnerabilities that require urgent reform.
“We should stop blaming other people for the weaknesses which we have,” she said.
In a notable shift, the ministry has framed the crisis as a catalyst for modernization, renewing calls for the digitalization of examination management systems to reduce human interference and improve security.
“All evidence has been handed over to the police,” the minister confirmed, adding that investigations are ongoing.
Officials maintain that the postponement was aimed at safeguarding academic integrity and restoring public confidence in a system that remains central to Cameroon’s educational pathway.