Government says Cambridge will strengthen safeguards after repeated exam controversies
Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired the meeting on June 25. Photo: Ministry of the Interior website/Archive
The Home Office on Thursday ordered the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to carry out a thorough investigation, in coordination with Cambridge International Education (CIE), into the alleged leaking of exam papers during the ongoing Cambridge assessments.
The development came a day after Cambridge confirmed the leak of another A-Level Mathematics paper that had allegedly circulated online ahead of the exam. The institution said it was working to determine the scope of the violation and decide the next course of action.
Responding to the controversy, Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Home Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha chaired a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Narcotics Control to review the matter.
Read: Cambridge confirms second leak of A-level Mathematics paper and postpones May 15 exam
According to a statement issued by the ministry, the secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Vocational Training (MoFE&PT) informed participants of concerns raised by the government and parents regarding what the statement described as “the alleged leak of the Cambridge O Level Mathematics exams”.
During the meeting, the British deputy high commissioner told participants that the matter appeared to involve a theft rather than an actual paper leak.
“CAIE representatives reiterated that Cambridge maintains strict standards to ensure transparency and integrity in the conduct of exams,” the statement said.
The statement added that the MoFE&PT secretary also expressed concern over reports of another exam leak and sought Cambridge’s official position on the issue in light of the anxiety faced by students and parents.
Cambridge representatives assured the forum that an official update would be shared as soon as possible.
The statement further said that the Home Secretary expressed “serious concern” over the alleged leak of exams and underlined the need for coordinated and effective measures for a prompt resolution of the matter.
“He directed DG NCCIA to conduct a thorough investigation in coordination with Cambridge,” the statement said, adding that he also emphasized strict implementation of decisions taken during the meeting and timely sharing of investigation results to ensure transparency and maintain public trust.
Read more: Government takes note after another Cambridge Maths paper allegedly leaked
“It was also decided that Cambridge would further strengthen the capacity of its system to address weaknesses and gaps in the examination process,” the statement added.
A and O Level examinations under the Cambridge system are currently being held across the country for the May-June session.
Just days after an A-level Mathematics paper was canceled due to a leak, another Cambridge Mathematics exam reportedly circulated online on Monday, a day before it was scheduled to be taken.
The following day, Cambridge confirmed that a second A-Level Mathematics paper had been leaked ahead of the exam and said it was assessing the extent of the breach and determining next steps.
Cambridge subsequently postponed the Cambridge International AS Level Mathematics Paper 32 (9709), which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan on Friday.
According to the students, the Mathematics assignment scheduled for the afternoon of May 12 had begun to circulate on social media hours before the exam began. The candidates claimed that upon entering the examination hall, they were given the same document that had previously appeared online.
The federal government had also taken notice of the matter earlier, with Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressing concern over the repeated leaks of documents.
Previously, a Cambridge A-Level Mathematics paper taken on April 29 had also been leaked, prompting authorities to announce a retake exam.
Following the incident, CIE announced the cancellation of the AS Level Mathematics exam (9709/12) for students in administrative zones 3 and 4 after the question paper was leaked. Non-compliance with exam standards led to the decision not to use the document for the final assessment results.
During the ongoing examination session, it was also reported that some other documents had been partially leaked.
