1. Introduction

At AltSchool Africa, we are committed to delivering an exceptional educational experience for all learners. This Exam Policy outlines clear expectations for exam conduct, offers guidance for learners facing extenuating life circumstances, and establishes the implications for failing to meet the required academic standards. Our goal is to ensure that all learners are provided with a fair and transparent process for managing exam-related challenges, while maintaining the integrity, quality, and excellence of our programs.

2.Learner Expectations on Academic Integrity

2.1 Cheating and Plagiarism:

At AltSchool Africa, academic integrity is fundamental to our community, and cheating or plagiarism undermines that trust. We define cheating as any attempt to gain an unfair academic advantage through unauthorized resources or methods. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying answers or solutions from other learners or external sources during assessments.

• Fabricating data or information in projects or research work.

  2.2 Plagiarism occurs when a learner presents someone else’s work, ideas, or words as their own without proper citation. This includes:

  • Copying and pasting text from websites, articles, or other sources without acknowledgment.

  • Submitting another learner's work, either in whole or in part, as your own.

    At AltSchool Africa, we encourage collaboration to enhance learning, but it’s important to understand when collaboration is appropriate and when individual effort is expected.

    • Collaboration is permitted and encouraged for group assignments and projects where teamwork is required. Always ensure you follow the guidelines for collaborative work outlined in each assessment as provided by your instructor(s).

    • Individual Work is expected when assignments, quizzes, or exams specify that the work is to be completed independently. Learners should not share answers on assessments that are meant to be individual.

      2.3 Submission of Original Work:

      All coursework, assignments, and projects must be original and the work of the learner submitting them. When submitting work, learners must ensure that: They are the sole creators of their assignments unless group work is explicitly stated. Proper citations are provided for any borrowed ideas, direct quotes, or paraphrased content. This ensures that each learner’s academic journey reflects their understanding and effort.

      2.4 Implications of Violating This Policy:

      In addition to an automatic forfeiture of all earnable points on the affected assessment(s), the Institution will mete out appropriate actions to address any policy violation(s), including, and up to, formal expulsions from AltSchool Africa.

  3.Formally Communicating Extenuating Circumstances

3.1 In cases where learners face extenuating life circumstances that may affect their ability to take an exam, they are required to formally notify the Ethics & Conduct Review Committee (ECRC) via [email protected] no later than 48 hours (WAT) before the scheduled start of the exam. This will allow us to assess the situation, determine the appropriate course of action, and provide necessary support. No other communication route (Slack or social media direct messages, for example) will be accepted. Failure to submit the request within the specified timeframe will lead to the implications discussed in the next section.

4. Implications of Missed Exams Without Institutional Approval:

4.1 Learners who miss the exam deadline without prior institutional approval will be automatically re-enrolled to the next cohort on the grounds of non-performance of a graduation (academic) requirement. They will be required to resume with the next cohort and retake the full semester to fulfill the academic requirements to graduate and receive their diploma certificate.

• Such learner(s) will be required to pay all applicable tuition fees for their new semester, upon resumption with the next cohort.

Note: AltSchool Africa reserves the right to update or modify its Exam policy at any time without prior notice to learners. Such changes will be effective immediately upon its communication to learners via any of our channels, including but not limited to, our website. By enrolling in our programs, you agree to abide by the terms and conditions outlined in this Exam Policy.