Sindh to bar students caught cheating from future board exams

KARACHI: The Sindh government has announced strict penalties for students and examination staff found involved in cheating during matriculation and intermediate examinations, saying a zero-tolerance policy is now in force.

In a joint statement, Sindh Minister for Universities and Boards Muhammad Ismail Rahu and Education Minister Sardar Shah said students using unfair means in examination papers would be stopped from appearing in future board examinations. They added that staff members found helping such practices would be removed from service.

The two ministers said action would be taken against any invigilator, internal or external examiner, or administrative official found involved in examination malpractice. They said candidates found carrying mobile phones or cheating material would be expelled from examination centres on the spot and their papers would be cancelled.

They also said monitoring at examination centres would be made stricter and that any interference or misconduct would be dealt with firmly.

Exams under scrutiny

The statement comes during the ongoing annual examinations for class 9 and 10 students, which began across Karachi last Friday. The examinations have drawn criticism amid allegations of paper leaks, bribery and administrative shortcomings.

According to a report aired on Geo News programme Geo Pakistan, irregularities linked to the examinations have raised questions about whether students are being given a fair chance to sit their papers. Some examination centres were changed even after the exams had already started.

Students, said they were shifted to different centres after already taking several papers, creating confusion and disruption.

The same report said a computer science paper and its answers were circulated on social media around 20 minutes before the examination started, prompting concerns about the extent and timing of the leak.

Allegations of organised cheating have also surfaced. There were claims that payments of up to Rs5,000 were being taken to enable cheating inside examination halls, while some students were allegedly allowed to use mobile phones without restriction.

Government warning

The ministers’ statement signals a tougher official response to the controversy surrounding the examinations. Under the announced policy, both students and staff found violating examination rules could face severe consequences.

The Sindh government said the purpose of the measures is to curb unfair means in board examinations and enforce discipline during the matriculation and intermediate exam process.

The latest announcement follows mounting concern over the conduct of the ongoing examinations, with allegations ranging from leaks of question papers to bribery and failures in administration.

With the exams continuing, the provincial government has said it will tighten oversight at centres and proceed against anyone found involved in cheating or facilitating it.