المملكة: Urgent: Banning smart watches in exams… and official reports of electronic cheating

The Ministry of Education resolved the controversy over the use of modern technologies in Tests, announcing a complete ban on the use of mobile phones and similar electronic devices, such as Smart watches, during the final exam period for the academic year 1447 AH.

The comprehensive protocol issued by the Ministry confirmed that if it is proven that the student used any of these devices to cheat, an immediate official report will be drawn up on the case, and strict and gradual penalties will be applied.

The Ministry explained that these strict oversight measures come in parallel with the focus on… Intensive on creating the appropriate psychological and educational environment for students.

The guide requires Schoolsare responsible for educating students and preparing them psychologically well before the start of the exams, alleviating the fear of the situation, and guiding them to the correct educational methods

for studying lessons and organizing time, in addition to clarifying the instructions and penalties resulting from disruption of order.

The protocol detailed the mechanisms for dealing with violations, as the procedures begin with a verbal warning in the event of repeated attention, then moving the student from his place, leading to withdrawing his paper and preparing a report when the attempt is repeated.

As for cases of proven cheating “electronically or traditionally,” the score for the question or questions in which the student was proven to have cheated the first time is cancelled. If the violation is repeated, the penalty escalates to the cancellation of the student’s test in the subject entirely.

With regard to the organizational procedures inside the hall, the manual stipulates that the student is obligated not to carry any books or papers related to the academic subjects. The student must also use the blue pen exclusively when answering, avoiding using a “blaster” or writing down more than one answer to a single question.

The guide organized entry and exit mechanisms, whereby a late student is allowed to enter, provided that his delay does not exceed half the time allotted for the test, and before any other student leaves the hall. On the other hand, no student is allowed to hand in his answer sheet and leave before half the specified time, except in emergency health cases and with the approval of the school principal.

To ensure the student’s interest, the guide clarifies that when any error is discovered in the question paper during the test, the committee will redistribute the score for that question to the rest of the correct questions.

After the specified time has expired, it will be confirmed. The invigilators receive all the answer sheets and have the students sign them, before handing them over in a special, arranged envelope to the control and control committee, which is responsible for keeping them in a safe place in preparation for the correction processes.