Sindh enforces zero tolerance against cheating in board exams

KARACHI: The Sindh government has announced strict action against students and officials involved in cheating during board examinations, enforcing a zero-tolerance policy amid ongoing controversy over malpractice.

In a joint statement, Education Minister Sardar Shah and Universities and Boards Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahu said students caught using unfair means in matriculation and intermediate exams would be barred from appearing in future board examinations.

They added that any staff member found facilitating cheating — including invigilators, examiners, or administrative officials — would be dismissed from service, with disciplinary proceedings initiated against all those involved in malpractice.

The ministers said candidates found with mobile phones or cheating material would be immediately expelled from examination centres, their papers cancelled, and further participation in ongoing or future exams prohibited.

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The move comes as annual examinations for grades 9 and 10 continue across the province, overshadowed by allegations of paper leaks, bribery, and administrative lapses. Reports indicate that some students were reassigned examination centres after already appearing in multiple papers, causing confusion and disruption.

Concerns intensified after a computer science paper and its answers reportedly surfaced on social media minutes before the exam, raising serious questions about the integrity of the system.

There have also been claims of organised cheating, with reports suggesting payments of up to Rs5,000 to facilitate malpractice inside examination halls, including alleged unrestricted use of mobile phones.

Authorities said monitoring at examination centres would be further strengthened, warning that any interference or misconduct would be dealt with strictly to ensure transparency and fairness in the examination process.