Matric paper leaks unchecked in Sindh

Despite repeated assurances and the enforcement of Section 144 around examination centers, Sindh once again failed to curb cheating during ongoing matriculation examinations, with reports of paper leaks and open academic misconduct emerging from multiple districts.

In Karachi, a significant incident occurred just 10 minutes before the ninth-grade computer science exam, when the question paper and its solution were leaked and widely circulated on WhatsApp groups. Despite a strict ban on mobile phones inside exam halls, enforcement was reportedly lax, and no action was taken against those responsible for the leak.

Similar cheating incidents were reported in Larkana during the English paper, where students openly used mobile phones and other technological devices to cheat. The use of such devices continued unchecked, raising concerns about the integrity of the examination process.

In Jacobabad, 22,000 exam centers were set up for approximately 11,000 students, but the enforcement of Section 144 to prevent unauthorized entry failed, as unrelated individuals were seen freely accessing examination venues. This lack of control further undermined the examination process.

Nawabshah also saw repeated instances of malpractice. On the second day of exams, the Class 10 Chemistry and General Science papers were found circulating on social media. Answers were reportedly sold via WhatsApp for Rs 500 per paper, while students used mobile phones to cheat during the exam. Local officials and monitoring teams from the educational department failed to ensure proper discipline.

Shaheed Benazirabad also witnessed large numbers of unauthorized persons outside examination centers, with no apparent presence of raiding teams from the education department. These recurring leaks and lack of administrative control have raised serious doubts about the credibility of the examination process and the effectiveness of measures to curb cheating across Sindh.