Yet another intermediate exam paper leaked in Karachi

KARACHI: The mathematics paper for intermediate part-ii reached candidates before time on Thursday, despite the WhatsApp groups for cheating coming to the authorities' attention a few days back.

This is the fourth paper to be leaked this year. A wave of such activities has hit the examination rooms over the past couple of weeks, revealing lacklustre management, corrupt administration, and tech-savvy cheating techniques.

Some students got hold of the chemistry test paper for intermediate part-ii prior to the exam. The paper was leaked via social media 15 minutes before the exam's scheduled time – 9 AM. This had transpired despite the intermediate board's rules stating that papers should not be taken out of the centres until an hour after the exam starts.

Related: Tech-savvy students turn to WhatsApp for cheating

With regard to this, Board of Intermediate Education Karachi Chairperson Professor Inam Ahmed said the papers were being leaked to malign the board.

On the same day, candidates at a government college in Quaidabad were caught copying answers from different WhatsApp groups during an examination. The students said their teachers encouraged them to join such groups, wherein they would be provided with the answers for Rs. 5,000 per person.

This came to light during Sindh Colleges Director General Dr Nasir’s visit to an exam centre near Jogi Mor. The irony is that this happened despite the issuance of a press release a few days back, which prohibited possession of mobile phones in exam halls.

Interesting: Global WhatsApp outage; coincidence or not?

When asked how the candidates managed to sneak mobile phones into the classroom, the invigilator said the students' parents found it difficult to contact their children after the examination; therefore, they would permit them to keep the devices only if they were switched off.

This happened despite the issuance of a press release a few days back, which prohibited the possession of mobile phones in exam halls.

Another cheating method was discovered when admit cards were found with photos of candidates who were sitting the exam, instead of those who were actually enrolled. A member of the board's vigilance committee told Geo News they caught two candidates sitting the exam for someone else.

Read more: Exam season fiasco; what do the authorities say?

Teachers at a Ghotki school protested on April 26, complaining about the administration’s insulting attitude, and claiming that each administrator was accompanied by five policemen.

Speaking to Geo News, Minister of Education – Sindh Jam Mehtab Dahar said Chief Minister Sindh has indicated that standardised education should be provided to the students. He added that everyone – from the Board and teachers to parents – are part of the reason such events take place.

—Editing by Haseem uz Zaman and ZahidunNisa