Iraq combats cheating in the classroom by cutting internet
Iraq combats cheating in the classroom by cutting internet
In a bid to stop students from cheating during their exams, the Iraqi Ministry of Communications cut off internet service to the entire country for a day.
2 min read
21 May, 2016
Education in Iraq has suffered since the 2003 US invasion [Getty]
The Iraqi Ministry of Communications cut off internet service to the entire country on Thursday to prevent cheating in school exams.
According to the main service providers in the country, including EarthLink, the ministry issued instructions to cut off services one hour before the start of exams and during the examination period which lasted three hours.
The decision came according to a plan prepared by the Iraqi Ministry of Education to curb the spread of fraud and leaking of exam questions through social networking sites, which took place last year.
However the cut in internet service was met with annoyance from departments and state institutions that affected their ability to function.
The Ministry of Education has resorted to several different means to prevent cheating in Iraq, including attempting to develop jamming devices in the exam halls for schools, colleges and universities.
Yet resourceful students have found ways around this including selling small headphones to allow contacts between friends in and outside the exam room.
Students reportedly buy the headphones off specialist dealers and hide them in clothing.
Cheating in has spread rapidly in recent times, and even reportedly involve the use of armed militias to threaten teachers to turn a blind eye to cheating students.
"Cutting off the internet is not a solution... instead the ministry should tighten procedures in exam rooms to prevent the use of phones," said Hamid al-Salihi, an educational expert.
Education in Iraq declined rapidly after the US invasion of the country in 2003 following the political and security chaos plaguing the country, and the lack of coherent policies to improve the situation.
According to the main service providers in the country, including EarthLink, the ministry issued instructions to cut off services one hour before the start of exams and during the examination period which lasted three hours.
The decision came according to a plan prepared by the Iraqi Ministry of Education to curb the spread of fraud and leaking of exam questions through social networking sites, which took place last year.
However the cut in internet service was met with annoyance from departments and state institutions that affected their ability to function.
The Ministry of Education has resorted to several different means to prevent cheating in Iraq, including attempting to develop jamming devices in the exam halls for schools, colleges and universities.
Yet resourceful students have found ways around this including selling small headphones to allow contacts between friends in and outside the exam room.
Students reportedly buy the headphones off specialist dealers and hide them in clothing.
Cheating in has spread rapidly in recent times, and even reportedly involve the use of armed militias to threaten teachers to turn a blind eye to cheating students.
"Cutting off the internet is not a solution... instead the ministry should tighten procedures in exam rooms to prevent the use of phones," said Hamid al-Salihi, an educational expert.
Education in Iraq declined rapidly after the US invasion of the country in 2003 following the political and security chaos plaguing the country, and the lack of coherent policies to improve the situation.
More in Opinion
17 April, 2024