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The government urges that exam papers should be scanned by specialist computer software as part of a crackdown on internet plagiarism by A-level and GSCE pupils in their compulsory coursework. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority warns that exam boards appear to be failing to spot cheating, even though the number of cases of fraud is increasing. Last year 3,600 teenagers were caught breaching the rules, a 9 % rise on the previous year.

Lawmakers in Ondo State have approved a jail term of between three and four years or a fine for principals who engage in examination malpractices in public schools. Any candidate who leaves an examination hall with intent to cheat or secure any unfair advantage for himself risk to pay a fine and/or three years imprisonment.

The Minister of Secondary Education has declared that advancements in IT is one of the factors behind increasing fraud registered at certificate examinations. This year's innovation had to do with the use of a scanner to print pictures of candidates on their individual timetables, which unfortunately served as a passport to get into the examination room. Watchdog committees made up of even illiterates "but reputable persons" have been set up to monitor the running of the examinations across the country.

The Mpumalanga education department has begun disciplinary hearings for 61 teachers accused of being involved in last year's matric exam cheating. Investigations revealed that candidates were assisted, possibly by teachers, in one or more subjects. Irregular practices took place at 10 of the province's Mpumalanga's 587 examination centres.

The firing of a teacher who helped expose the cheating in last year's matric exams shows that whistle-blowers' rights are badly protected. This despite the promise from the Education Minister to protect those who exposed the cheating. Seven months after the fraud in the Mpumalanga matric exams, the only person who has been penalised is one of the whistle-blowers.

The Minister of Secondary Education has banned some Teachers and candidates who were involved in the 2004/2005 examination fraud. Malpractices ranged from award of undeserved marks, release of examination questions ahead of time or attempt to answer questions for candidates in examination halls.

The newly introduced system of exams for students finishing secondary school is facing a corruption scandal due to questions "leakage". This year the tests are more important than ever before, because they will also serve as university entrance exams. The questions to three of the five required tests began appearing on the eve of the first test. Although it is impossible to know how many of the 87,500 graduating students obtained the questions illegitimately, chances are that they form a majority.

Exam boards report a sharp rise in teenagers caught cheating in public exams. More than 2,500 lost marks for breaking the rules in last year's GCSEs and A-levels - a 9% increase on 2003. More than 900 pupils were caught cheating or plagiarising their coursework. In total, 1,013 penalties were triggered by inappropriate use of mobile phones - 16% up on the same time last year.

Widespread cheating in the 2004 KCSE examination has been discovered. The civil society want the government to explain why it has failed to stop examination cheating. Some 1,739 candidates from 107 schools had their results cancelled for cheating. Out of this, 1,617 were found to have colluded with each other, 134 were caught with unauthorised information during the exams and another 16 were found impersonating.

The West African Examinations Council says it has not recorded any case of examination leakage in five years. It also denied knowledge of the existence of "special exam centers". The centers were allegedly created by some principals and secondary school proprietors for their candidates who are compelled to pay fees higher than the official fees charged by WAEC. The money is reportedly used for lobbying officials of the council to release the examination question papers to the centers ahead of the official time of the examination.