Existing system can’t stop question leaks in public exams, says education official

A senior education official says it is not possible to stop question leaks in public exams in the existing system.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 15 Feb 2018, 10:39 AM
Updated : 20 Feb 2018, 04:20 PM

The government is trying to find ways to overhaul the system with recommendations from all stakeholders, said Md Sohrab Hossain, secretary to the Secondary and Higher Education Division.

“In the current situation, we need to devise a new system with no scope to leak the questions,” he told the media at his officeson Thursday.

His remarks came as the High Court ordered the government to explain why the failure to stop the leaks will not be deemed illegal.

Hossain is one of the several officials ordered by the court to respond in two weeks.

“We will definitely comply with any court order. Our explanations will be presented to the court,” he told reporters.

On Wednesday, Telecom and IT Minister Mustafa Jabbar said that too many people are involved in the process of writing, printing and handing questions to students in public exams, making it impossible to stop the leaks.

Secretary Hossain apparently echoed Jabbar on Thursday.

“I have said time and again that the reality is, 30,000 teachers and staff are involved in the process. I consider all of them totally honest and sincere. If one or two people commit this crime, it questions the integrity of all.”

Replying to a query, Hossain said they were in “no position to guarantee” that it would not happen in the coming public exams.

On using the internet to circulate leaked questions, Hossain said, “Now it spreads very fast over the internet. A leak would not have been so damaging, if that was not the case. It would have been on a limited scale.”

During the inquiry, it occurred to them that leaks may have had happened every year, he said adding: “People had high moral values back then. If people in the past accessed leaked questions, they would not disclose it to anyone, not even friends as it would make them look bad.

“Things are different now—everyone, including the guardian, is involved.”

Intelligence agencies were involved in the probe to track the perpetrators, said Hossain. “They are trying hard to get to bottom of it.”