Students in Pakistan have vehemently protested against the CIE’s decision to retest them. PHOTO: FILE
The leak of ‘O’ level and IGCSE exam papers has cast doubt on the credibility of the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Although details of what happened are as still murky, it seems that a security breach caused the Pakistan Studies and Islamiat papers offered to students on May 7, 9, 14 and 15 to leak. The two exams will now be held again on June 13 and 14, according to the CIE. Students in Pakistan have vehemently protested against the CIE’s decision to retest them, especially since initial reports said that the leak had not occurred in Pakistan. Many of the students had already left the country for vacations and it seemed unfair to make them pay for the CIE’s carelessness. However, the CIE Chief Executive, Micheal Sullivan, said on June 5 that some students in Pakistan had indeed seen the paper, which makes a retake of the exam necessary in order to maintain the integrity of the exam and ensure that the result given to students is valid.
Around 30,000 students in Pakistan are affected by this, a substantial number, and many are now questioning whether there is any difference in sitting for a CIE exam versus one from the local Inter/Matric system, which is notorious for leaked papers and brazen cheating. These exams are one of UK’s main exports, since they come with a credibility often lacking in different countries’ local exam boards.
The CIE has taken full responsibility for the incident, calling it “highly regrettable” and “exceptional”. The only positive side to the story is that it has offered students a host of options: they may retake the papers in June, or in November, or opt for a full refund and not take them at all. However, it needs to clarify how the lapse occurred and take steps to rectify the problem. Students spend years preparing for these exams and they are part of their permanent academic records. The CIE needs to conduct them more efficiently.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 7th, 2013.
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Delusional editorial appealing to its readership. This is like saying banning Youtube is going to affect Google somehow.
"Around 30,000 students in Pakistan are affected by this, a substantial number, and many are now questioning whether there is any difference in sitting for a CIE exam versus one from the local Inter/Matric system, which is notorious for leaked papers and brazen cheating."
The difference is that CIE is that leaks are infrequent and when they occur, a retest is conducted to preserve integrity of the test. Those who have gone overseas (undoubtedly a small number) have been given the option to take the test in November. Finally in applying for undergraduate study overseas, there would be a difference between CIE and matriculation exams. But if the students feel there is no difference, why then, they may vote with their feet.
"These exams are one of UK’s main exports"
How did you reach the conclusion that this is one of Britain's main exports? Britain exports around Bo billion pounds per month or 480 billion pounds per year. ITs key exports are "Transport Equipment (16 percent); Chemical Products (10 percent of total exports); Machinery and Equipment (9 percent); Computer, Electronic and Optical Products (8 percent); Pharmaceutical Products (8 percent); Refined Petroleum Products (7 percent) and Basic Metals (6 percent)." http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/exports