Thousands of students in anxiety over exam paper leaks in two provinces

CID called in to investigate who did what to disclose the papers

Recent concerns about term exam paper leaks in two provinces have left students in despair, anxiety, frustration and uncertainty.

Educationists and parents say exam paper leaks are an unethical practice with dire repercussions that compromise exam integrity and put many students’ futures in jeopardy.

In talks with the State Printing Corporation (SPC), it was decided to reprint the exam papers at no cost, allowing students from Grades 6 to 11 to redo the mathematics and English papers, according to Western Province Education Ministry Secretary Sirisoma Lokuwithana.

He said steps would be taken, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, to implement hi-tech systems to prevent similar regrettable events from occurring.

The secretary said that as every education institution’s operations were centred on students, every official should be aware of their responsibilities and act accordingly.

It is no secret that exam paper leaks damage the faith of educators, parents and students in the examination system. Academic accomplishments become less valuable as a result of students and society losing faith in the impartiality and fairness of assessments, the secretary said.

Parents say exam paper leaks are largely caused by corruption in the educational system. Access to private documents may allow someone to be bought over, they say.

Educational institutions may be susceptible to leaks if their security protocols are compromised. Unauthorised access and manipulation may be possible if there is insufficient control over the printing, storing, and distribution of test papers, the parents say.

Responding to these concerns, an SPC official said they were investigating to determine what led to the leak.

He said the wide availability of hightech devices such as smartphones had enabled insiders to take pictures and send them to relevant parties.

“Exam paper leaks may cause educational standards to drop. Students may prioritise memorising over in-depth comprehension and critical thinking when they have access to leaked papers. As such, there would be a decline in the quality of education and a compromise in real learning,” Sabaragamuwa Provincial Education Ministry Secretary Chamara Bamunuarachchi said.

In a related event, a leaked English question paper caused the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Ministry of Education to postpone its second paper.

“In the Sabaragamuwa Province, the provincial exam papers are delivered to the relevant school officials electronically three days before the exam in the form of a PDF, requesting that they print them. Certain Sabaragamuwa Province schools have fewer printing resources than others. In such cases, test papers are occasionally printed through bookshops or communication centres. There is suspicion that this is how the exam paper ended up in the hands of students,” Mr. Bamunuarachchi said.

He said the Criminal Investigation Department had also been called in to conduct a probe.

He warned that if the test paper was an internal leak, those responsible would face severe legal consequences.

Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that as the first term of this year began on February 19, tests should have been completed by February 16. He claimed that since the paper leak forced students to resit the exam, it was unfair to students in the Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.

He said adopting technology could aid in safeguarding exam papers. Leak risk could be reduced through encrypted communication channels and secure digital storage. Regular IT infrastructure upgrades and security audits could also fix issues, he said.

Comprehensive training on ethics and professional conduct should be provided to educators and personnel, Mr. Stalin said.

To inculcate a strong sense of responsibility and to emphasise the significance of protecting examination confidentiality, clear standards and codes of ethics should be established, he said.

"Helping to discover internal leaks could involve promoting a transparent culture and offering protection to people who report suspected leaks. The disclosure of unethical acts is encouraged by whistleblower rules that furnish moral training, which guarantee anonymity and protect people from reprisals," he said.

Strict legal penalties should be put in place for exam paper leakers that would entail harsh punishments, fines, and criminal prosecutions for both the individuals at fault and the recipients of the compromised documents, the trade union leader said.

Moreover, people need to be made aware of the negative consequences of exam paper leaks. Campaigns, seminars, and discussions could help raise awareness and foster a shared responsibility for preserving the integrity of exams, Mr. Stalin added.

Following the Department of Examinations’ decision to cancel Papers I and II due to social media leaks, about 20,722 candidates were forced to take the G.C.E. Advanced Level Agricultural Science Paper for the second time on February 1, leaving students in despair, anxiety, frustration and uncertainty.

While attributing the situation to the total negligence of the relevant examination supervisor, Examinations Commissioner General Amith Jayasundara said the CID had been called in to investigate the leak.

With the 2023 Ordinary Level Examination in view, exam papers would be printed, and then kept under close monitoring in secure facilities, he said, adding that only authorised personnel would be able to access the storage.

Also in place would be background checks on invigilators to ensure they were not prone to temptation, he said.

To deter students and people from leaking or exploiting leaked exam papers, awareness programmes would also be carried out, the exam chief said.

Police Media Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said exam supervisors should prioritise their ability to successfully administer exams; hence, they should exercise greater caution and pay attention to their surroundings.

DIG Thalduwa further suggested that, to prevent these regrettable circumstances, it should be mandatory for staff members to refrain from using electronic devices during exam hours.

“To secure exam papers, educational establishments need to improve their security measures. This entails safe storage spaces, controlled access, and careful observation of the distribution, printing, and retrieval procedures,” DIG Thalduwa said.