Egypt Cracks Down on Exam Cheats

Originally reported by Ahram online

The Egyptian Education Ministry has announced that it is implementing tougher sanctions on those caught cheating in exams. Cheaters could now face a fine of up to 200,000 Egyptian pounds ($11,055) or be sentenced to a maximum of seven years in jail and will be barred from sitting any further exams.

The announcement comes as high school students prepare to sit their standardized final exams known as 'thannaweya amma” which, in previous years, have be plagued with countless incidents of exam leaks and attempts to cheat the system. But this year, it is hoped that things will be different.

According to the ministry, penalties will apply to any student who "prints, publishes, broadcasts or promotes exam questions and answers by any means," whether the violation occurs before or during the exams, as long as the aim is "cheating and undermining the social order of examinations in or outside exam rooms".

Egypt is no stranger to accusations of institutionalised cheating, with numerous scandals involving education results littering the country's recent past. As far back as 2008 there were attempts to curb to practice, with the city of Minya notoriously imprisoning 14 school cheaters, yet change has not come quickly. It is hoped that the new law will send a strong message and go some way to repairing the damaged reputability of the Egyptian education system.