Government says Cambridge will strengthen safeguards after repeated examination paper controversies
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chairing meeting on June 25. Photo: Interior Ministry website/ File
The Ministry of Interior on Thursday directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to conduct a thorough investigation, in coordination with Cambridge International Education (CIE), into the alleged leakage of examination papers during the ongoing Cambridge assessments.
The development came a day after Cambridge confirmed the leak of another A-Level Mathematics paper that had reportedly circulated online before the examination. The institution said it was working to determine the extent of the breach and decide the next course of action.
In response to the controversy, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Interior Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha chaired a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control to review the matter.
Read: Cambridge confirms 2nd leak of A-level Mathematics paper, postpones May 15 exam
According to a statement issued by the ministry, the secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFE&PT) briefed participants on concerns raised by the government and parents regarding what the statement described as “the alleged leakage of Cambridge O Level Mathematics examination papers”.
During the meeting, the British deputy high commissioner told participants that the matter appeared to involve theft rather than an actual paper leak.
“Representatives of CAIE reiterated that Cambridge maintains strict standards to ensure transparency and integrity in the conduct of examinations,” the statement said.
The statement added that the secretary of MoFE&PT also raised concerns regarding reports of another examination paper leak and sought Cambridge’s official position on the issue in light of the anxiety being faced by students and parents.
Representatives of Cambridge assured the forum that an official update would be shared at the earliest.
The statement further said that the interior secretary expressed “serious concern” over the alleged leakage of examination papers and underscored the need for coordinated and effective measures for an early resolution of the matter.
“He directed the DG NCCIA to conduct a thorough investigation in coordination with Cambridge,” the statement said, adding that he also emphasised the strict implementation of decisions taken during the meeting and the timely sharing of investigation findings to ensure transparency and maintain public confidence.
Read More: Govt takes notice after another Cambridge Maths paper allegedly leaks
“It was also decided that Cambridge would further strengthen its system capacity to address weaknesses and loopholes in the examination process,” the statement added.
A and O Level examinations under the Cambridge system are currently being held across the country for the May-June session.
Just days after the cancellation of an A-Level Mathematics paper over a leak, another Cambridge Mathematics examination was allegedly circulated online on Monday, a day before it was scheduled to be held.
On the following day, Cambridge confirmed that a second A-Level Mathematics paper had been leaked before the examination and said it was assessing the scale of the breach and determining the next steps.
Subsequently, Cambridge postponed the Cambridge International AS Level Mathematics Paper 32 (9709), which had been scheduled to take place in Pakistan on Friday.
According to students, the Mathematics paper scheduled for the afternoon of May 12 had begun circulating on social media hours before the examination commenced. Candidates claimed that upon entering the examination hall, they were handed the same paper that had earlier appeared online.
The federal government had also taken notice of the matter earlier, with Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressing concern over repeated paper leaks.
Earlier, a Cambridge A-Level Mathematics paper conducted on April 29 had also been leaked, prompting authorities to announce a retake examination.
Following the incident, CIE announced the cancellation of the AS Level Mathematics (9709/12) exam for students in administrative zones 3 and 4 after the question paper was leaked. The breach of examination regulations led to the decision not to use the paper for final assessment results.
During the ongoing examination session, some other papers were also reported to have been partially leaked.
