Sindh govt warns cheating students will not be allowed to appear for future board exams

KARACHI:

The Sindh government on Friday warned that students found involved in cheating during registration and intermediate exams will be barred from appearing in future board exams, as authorities stepped up measures to ensure transparency in the examination system.

In a joint statement issued through the Sindh Information Department on X, Sindh Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah and Universities and Boards Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahu said no form of cheating would be tolerated. They added that examining staff found involved in malpractice would face immediate dismissal from the service.

Ministers claimed that students caught carrying mobile phones or cheating materials would be immediately expelled from exam centers and their exams would be cancelled. Such candidates would also be disqualified from the ongoing exams and excluded from future board exams.

The warning comes amid increased scrutiny of matriculation exams in Sindh, where issues such as exam delays, late issuance of admit cards and administrative mismanagement have already sparked official investigations and reports.

On the other hand, Rahu made a surprise visit to an SR Academy examination center in Shah Faisal Colony on Friday, where he took note of the irregularities. He ordered immediate action and directed the chairman of the Matriculation Board to cancel the exam centers on the spot, citing violations of exam rules.

Rahu alleged that the examination staff was facilitating cheating by allowing students from other schools to solve the papers during the process. He also noted that the number of students in the center exceeded the approved capacity, calling it a serious infraction.

It ordered strict action against board officials allegedly involved in transfer and management of examination centres, and ordered cancellation of centers at SR Public Secondary School, Shah Faisal Colony, and SR Public School and College, Saudabad, Malir.

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Reiterating the government’s stance, he said the province was pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against cheating and had already issued strict instructions to all board chairmen. He added that deputy commissioners, deputy commissioners and other officials of the district had been directed to make surprise visits to ensure transparency in the examinations.

Meanwhile, the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) has issued a show-cause notice to its former acting controller of examinations, Muhammad Ziaul Haq, over allegations of misconduct, inefficiency, corruption and dereliction of duty.

According to the notice, the official has been accused of undermining the integrity of the examination system ahead of the 2026 SSC Part I annual examinations, citing gross negligence, abuse of authority and procedural violations.

The Sindh government had earlier sought reports on delays in exams and non-issuance of admit cards on time. The matter was further aggravated after changes in the examination centers and administrative failures.

On April 13, the provincial government again ordered the Matric Board to submit a full report on the issue.

The notice further alleged violations of SOPs and procedural rules, stating that the exam centers were allocated in a “non-transparent and arbitrary” manner. He also claimed to be involved in manipulating center assignments, hiring unauthorized middlemen and accepting bribes in exchange for favorable positions.

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Also included were serious allegations of breach of official secrecy, claiming that confidential exam information was allegedly revealed and misused.

The official is also accused of insubordination, failure to fulfill his duties and remaining absent from office without approval since March 17 during a critical phase of preparations for the exam.

The notice also alleges attempts to disrupt the exam portal in collaboration with IT officials, which contributed to operational disruptions and the postponement of previously scheduled exams.

He also indicated that due to administrative deficiencies, the exams scheduled for April 7 were postponed to April 10, attributing the delay to alleged failures in execution and control.

The controller has been ordered to submit a written explanation within seven days, and authorities warn that failure to respond may lead to ex parte proceedings.