BISE's plan to use mobile signal jammers hindered

Earlier, the board had announced to install jammers at sensitive examination centres

HYDERABAD: The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Hyderabad's bid to introduce jammers to block the use of mobile phones at the examination centres has reportedly been impeded by the Sindh government.

According to official sources, the home department has so far not given permission to the board to install the jamming devices even though the college exams being conducted by the board started on Tuesday.

The BISE, Hyderabad had earlier announced that mobile signal jammers would be installed at the sensitive centres in 10 districts of Hyderabad and Nawabshah divisions. Of total 142 examination centres, 51 have been declared sensitive by the board. On April 22, BISE Hyderabad Controller of  Examinations Masroor Ahmed Zai claimed that the board had conducted a successful trial of jammers.

As many as 56,554 and 56,285 students are appearing for the examinations of Higher Secondary Certificate part I and part II respectively.



BISE Hyderabad Chairperson Prof Dr Muhammad Memon had recently announced at a press conference that jammers would be installed at the examinations centres that had been declared as sensitive.

Talking to the media on Tuesday, Prof Memon said the board bought just one jamming device at a cost of around Rs16,000 for trial purpose. "The centres are large enough for a single device to cover," he said.

The board chairperson added that prior to the installation of devices, the board required permission from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority through the Sindh home department.

Even if the government permits the use of jammers, they would still be hindered by the load-shedding. "... initiatives require supply of electric which seems to be a major hurdle," Prof Memon said.



He also acknowledged that even if the devices worked during the examination hours, a possibility existed that the students who wanted to cheat might upload or take photographs of an entire book in their mobile phones. "... if our invigilators, internal and external centre superintendents, and vigilance committees work well, we will not need jammers." he said.