You are guilty unless proven innocent!

CIE oblivious to Pakistani students’ woes

Says its investigation into malpractices, outcomes are confidential; Punjab
school education minister admits no check on foreign examination entities

LAHORE 

Have you ever heard of a situation in which cheating allegation is hurled at a candidate by an examining body and instead of itself proving the same, the candidate is asked to prove innocence?  

This seems ridiculous but this has been happening to Pakistani students appearing in O and A levels examination of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), UK. 

The CIE keeps results of such candidates pending and in the instant case the candidate did not receive any information vis-à-vis the fate of his result for almost two years now despite submitting a written undertaking that he was not involved in cheating.  

Having roots in a country having long and celebrated history in terms of social justice and values, one wonders as to why the CIE authorities are indifferent to great stress candidates and their family members face in such cases because of the embarrassing ‘undertaking’ and prolonged delays for subsequent decisions.  

According to details, a candidate R* had appeared in CIE’s A Level exams in June 2014 as a student of a leading private school in Lahore. (*The name of the student is being withheld to protect his identity on his request. However, the candidate’s complete details were shared with the CIE for this story). He appeared in English Literature, Physics and Mathematics. Before the result was announced, R* was informed by the CIE, through his school, that the CIE suspected some foul play in the paper of Physics as many attempted MCQs (the wrong ones) of different candidates, including him matched. He was asked to submit a written undertaking explaining whether he cheated or not.  

Initially reluctant as to why he should give an undertaking when he did nothing wrong, R* however categorically rejected the CIE’s claim (allegation) stating he was neither involved in cheating nor was responsible for these matching MCQs. 

The candidate told The News that four students were alleged to have cheated (while attempting wrong MCQs!) despite the fact they were not sitting near to each other in the exam hall. 

It is pertinent to mention here that in order to be eligible to get admission in the next class the student R* had to appear in an extra paper (English Language) privately for which he paid around Rs20,000 to the CIE. 

Despite all this, the candidate has still been waiting for result of this particular paper (Physics) with no official word in this regard, either from the school or the CIE. The News sent a detailed email to CIE Pakistan and CIE UK management mentioning all details of the candidates and the stress he and his family been through because of the cheating allegation. However, the CIE spokesperson said: "Malpractice investigations and outcomes are confidential and we are not able to discuss this case.”  The student R* further said neither him nor any of the two other students who were alleged to be involved in cheating heard back from the CIE. 

When asked as to why the students are made to give undertaking, the CIE spokesperson said: “In accordance with our regulations, code of conduct and regulatory obligations, we are required to conduct an investigation when we receive information that raises doubt over the validity of our assessments. As part of any investigation, candidates may be asked to provide an account but are not asked to sign any form of undertaking.” British Council Lahore’s communication officer was contacted to share details as to how many students appeared in the CIE exams from Pakistan on annual basis. The officer assured to connect this scribe with person/s dealing with CIE exams at the British Council but this did not happen till filing of this report.  

According to CIE spokesperson, the total number of O-Level entries in Pakistan this year was 161,412 while the total number of A-Level entries was 91,144. The stats are enough to understand as to how much the foreign exam body gets stack of money from Pakistan each year.  

In answer to question about the individual student the CIE spokesperson observed: “We cannot provide further comment on this case, but if the students are concerned about their results they should contact their school. If they do not get a response they should contact the British Council.” However, one wonders when the CIE/school can contact the student vis-à-vis alleged cheating as to why they fail to inform the student the outcome of their ‘investigations’ and that too with the passage of almost two years. 

When asked as to how many cases of cheating were ‘unearthed' by the CIE in Pakistan (both O & A levels) during the last two years and how many of these have been decided, the CIE spokesperson said the CIE was unable to provide these details. “Investigations of instances of suspected malpractice and their outcomes are confidential”, the spokesperson added. 

It is pertinent to mention here that according to its own website Cambridge International Examinations is the world's largest provider of international education programmes and qualifications for 5 to 19-year olds.  

To a question as to how much revenue the CIE generated on annual basis through students in Pakistan in terms of their registration/exam fee, the CIE spokesperson said: “Information about revenue generated in specific countries is commercially confidential. We are a not for profit organisation, we devote our resources to delivering high-quality educational programmes that can unlock learners’ potential.”  

The spokesperson; however, shared a web link about CIE annual report carrying its financial information according to which the CIE’s total annual income was £m 350.1 in 2014 which rose to £m 375.9 in 2015. Similarly a rise was noted in CIE’s expenditure from £m 296.6 in 2014 to £m 319.3 in 2015.  

When contacted, Punjab School Education Minister Rana Mashhood, who had been the province’s Education Minister for several years and now holds only schools ministry portfolio, admitted that there was no check on foreign examination boards working in Pakistan. He however assured that he would look into the issue.