On Wednesday, the Punjab government exposed a significant cheating scandal during the class-IX annual exams in Lahore. It resulted in the termination of 93 private invigilators at the Lawrence Road centre and the filing of cases against them for aiding cheating.
The discovery was made following a visit by Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin to the centre, prompted by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s directive. Students reported being solicited for bribes by invigilators, with demands reaching Rs7,000 for assistance, particularly for the mathematics paper.
Minister Yasin dismissed all 93 invigilators in response and confirmed legal actions were underway. Additionally, 10 cases were initiated for egregious legal breaches at Lahore’s exam centres, leading to arrests.
Lahore District Education Authority CEO Pervez Akhtar and other officials were present during the reveal. This incident follows the recent removal of the BISE Lahore chairman and exam controller due to inadequate performance.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has since established a cabinet committee to delve into the cheating scandal and the administrative failures in exam management. This committee is tasked with ensuring the examination’s integrity.
The committee has mandated the appointment of regular government officials as invigilators across all centres and emphasized stringent anti-cheating measures.
BISE Lahore’s Examination Controller Muhammad Zahid Mian inspected centres at Jallo Morr and GT Road Manawan, uncovering further cheating facilitated by staff, leading to suspensions and arrests.
Directed by Punjab Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat, monitoring teams scrutinized class-IX exam centres in Dera Ghazi Khan, catching students cheating, resulting in the confiscation of mobile phones and cheating materials. Absences among the examination staff were noted, with some positions filled by unauthorized personnel. Minister Hayat has ordered arrests and the registration of Unfair Means Cases (UMCs) against those involved in these malpractices.
