Algeria bans internet for exams

MANY worry about their children being glued to the internet when they should be doing their homework.

But while parents may threaten to turn off online access at home, the Algerian government has taken a tougher approach.

The internet will be switched off across the country during school exams amid concerns that young people are using it to cheat and leak questions on test papers.

Mobile and fixed line internet connections will go down an hour after the start of each high school diploma exam.

The blackout period will continue, with the rules in place until June 25 when exams end. It comes after widespread cheating in 2016 when exam questions were leaked.

The authorities asked internet providers to block social media during last year’s exams. When this failed to happen, ministers decided on a more draconian tactic.

Facebook has been suspended across the country while the tests take place.

Education minister Nouria Benghabrit told Algerian newspaper An-Nahar the government should not passively accept leaks. Metal detectors are being used to stop students taking phones into exam halls.