Thou shall not pass (by cheating): Education department to monitor matric exams via CCTVs

Officials say centres will be open to unscheduled visits to keep invigilators alert.

PESHAWAR: The provincial Elementary and Secondary Education department is taking strict measures to minimise cheating in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams scheduled to begin on March 12 (tomorrow).

According to an official of the education department, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed at all centres where the SSC/matriculation examinations will be conducted. Education boards have also been asked to monitor all examination centres via a live video link, he said.

“CCTV cameras have been installed by all eight education boards of the province, including Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Peshawar, BISE Mardan, BISE Abbottabad, BISE Bannu, BISE Swat, BISE Kohat, BISE Malakand and BISE DI Khan, at their respective centres,” he informed, adding that this time students will not be allowed to cheat.

The official further explained that the CCTV cameras will be connected to the internet and the members of education boards will be monitoring exam centres and keeping a close watch on the activities within the centres.

“We have adopted strict measures and will put all our efforts into preventing students from using unfair means,” he claimed. Anyone found cheating or assisting students in cheating will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Another official of the education department said this time around staffers known for being honest will be deputed to exam centres. “Previously, education department staffers would bribe senior officers to get themselves deputed at specific centres where they can make money by allowing cheating. But this will not happen this time,” he contended.

Furthermore, lecturers, professors and media personnel will be invited to make unscheduled visits to centres so that the invigilators remain alert, he added.

“Exams are the time when hardworking students prove their mettle. This is why we are putting all our efforts into curbing cheating to give such students the chance to excel,” he added. On February 18, BISE Abbottabad asked 29 select private and public schools in the region to install CCTVs for matric exams so as to root out cheating.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2014.