CHEATS STILL WRITE EXAMS

THE Tranquillity Government Secondary students found using their cell phones to share the answer sheet during a CSEC math exam in a classroom on Wednesday are being allowed to write the rest of their exams in others subjects.

However, they are not getting off scot free as sources within the Education Ministry said that CXC (the Caribbean Examinations Council) in Barbados, which holds ownership of these exams, is still investigating the math cheating.

The students’ action, recorded via cellphone which was then posted to social media, resulted in the dismissal of three invigilators after the ministry deemed the supervision of the three as “inadequate.”

While CXC is continuing its investigations, the ministry is also continuing a probe especially as there have been claims of similar cheating in other secondary schools.

On its website, CXC stated that it has been made aware of a breach in examination security in TT.

“At this time we are working closely with the Trinidad Ministry of Education to conduct an investigation surrounding the report.

“Appropriate corrective action will be taken quickly to reinforce existing security measures and to mitigate any potential impact,” CXC said.

Chief Education Officer Harrilal Seecharan yesterday said CXC can do either of two things after it completes its investigation.

“CXC can decide to disqualify the students for the (math) exam on that day, or disqualify them for all CSEC exams they wrote. The ministry cannot make a decision whether these students can write the exams or not. CXC has a special committee that deals with irregularities and this committee will make its recommendations,” Seecharan said.

Asked about reports that students in another school in Central were also seen in a video on social media cheating during exams, Seecharan said he could not confirm at this time.

“There has been a report of cell phone use, but we have to question the students first before we make a final report. What we understand is that some students took pieces and made one video to make it look like an exam paper was being leaked.

“It could be an attempt to make mischief after this last incident (at Tranquillity). We have to be sure about this before we take any action.”

Seecharan declined to name the Central school in question saying it could lead people to pass judgement on the school without concrete evidence.

Asked about what mechanism was being put in place to prevent students taking their cell phones into the exam room, Seecharan said supervisors are supposed to advise students about all rules, before the exams start.

“We do not carry out physical searches. The students are to either lodge their phones at the front of the class or don’t take them in at all.

“We are following CXC guidelines. We have also asked principals to provide an area where they can facilitate students’ phones.”

Education Minister Anthony Garcia, in the Parliament yesterday, said that in order to avoid further examination breaches, a dedicated hotline has been set up at the ministry’s examination section where examination supervisors and coordinators can call for support on any examination-related issue.

Seecharan explained that this hotline was for supervisors and examiners who are having any difficulty, such as lack of invigilators or scripts, to call and they will be guided accordingly.

He said reports on misconduct by students through the hotline will be reported to the ministry who will then report to CXC.

Garcia said principals have been reminded to apprise students sitting the CSEC and CAPE examinations of the need to adhere to guidelines set for the examinations by CXC. He added that examination coordinators have been told to be more vigilant at examination centres to ensure strict adherence to exam protocols.

He said principals have also been requested to monitor examination centres on a daily basis “to ensure that exams are coordinated in accordance with CXC prescriptions.”

Attempts to contact CXC registrar Glenroy Cumberbatch via phone and Facebook yesterday were unsuccessful.