Early exam sitting causes chaos By Waleed PD Mahdini
Concerned parents have voiced their displeasure over an early unscheduled sitting for an 'O' Level Chemistry examination on Thursday afternoon by a local private school that led to other students receiving the questions via phone and SMS.
The scheduled time for the nationwide one and a half-hour long 'O' Level Chemistry examination was set at half past four on Thursday afternoon. However, this timetable was not followed at one of the private schools, which decided to start the examination earlier than schedule.
This resulted in the students sitting for the Chemistry examination at this school to finish ahead of students in other schools. For some enterprising or loyal friends, they took this advantage to communicate with their friends and share with them the questions of the examination.
Upon learning of the mix-up, some parents have informed the Weekend Bulletin about the situation asking the authorities to investigate the matter and consider a re-sitting of the examination.
"How can the school allow this to happen? Aren't they supposed to follow a schedule that has been set down by the Ministry of Education? This is outright cheating," remarked one clearly outraged parent, who wished to remain anonymous, when he explained the matter to the Weekend Bulletin.
"I think the Ministry of Education should seriously look into the matter and I hope that they will also do something about the confusion that has been caused," said a woman whose daughter sat for the Thursday examination, adding the question: "I think the school should have at least quarantined the students until the rest of the students sitting for the examination finished theirs. I find this completely irresponsible of them. They should have been aware of this situation."
Most of the parents that were approached by the Bulletin agreed that they intend to take the matter up with the authorities of the school in question to demand an explanation for their oversight.
"I wouldn't blame the students. Of course, as a parent, I would half expect them to do that. What disappoints me is the carelessness of the school authorities. Why should other students benefit from this time rearrangement?" observed another parent.
The Ministry of Education could not be contacted for comments.
Source: Borneo Bulletin Weekend, Local News 10232010
