Theft of school test papers a reminder to all about a lapse in security

Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh holding up a sample set of UPSR examination papers at Bangunan Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia, Putrajaya, September 12, 2014. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today that several officials have been suspended over the two leaked UPSR examination paper. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Examination Syndicate director, deputy, suspended over UPSR leaks
Friday September 12, 2014

05:32 PM GMT+8UPDATED:

September 12, 2014

07:11 PM GMT+8KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — The Malaysian Examination Syndicate director and deputy director of operations have been suspended over the two leaked UPSR examination papers, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today. English daily the New Straits Times also tweeted the education minister as saying that Education Department deputy director-general Datuk Misrah Ibrahim will take over as Examination Syndicate director pending investigations, after the director Dr Na’imah Ishak and deputy Dr Wan Ilias Wan Salleh were suspended. “The Examination Board director must be responsible because it affects the integrity of the ministry and public examinations,” Muhyiddin was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama that tweeted his comment at @bernamadotcom. Bernama reported Muhyiddin, who is also the deputy prime minister, as saying that Na’imah and Wan Ilias were suspended with immediate effect … for more, go to http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/examination-board-director-deputy-suspended-over-upsr-leaks#jFFDrGo69kb14Jc6.97

Theft of school test papers a reminder to all about a lapse in security

“Singapore school test papers stolen in transit to British examiner” - Wow! That’s the headline for a news report posted by The Star Online.

Who in the world would want to steal test papers of students? Beats me!

“That's baffling because the test papers are almost worthless to the thief or thieves,” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abudl Razak Alsagoff said.

He said in Malaysia, there had been cases of test papers being stolen before the students sit for their examination.

“That makes sense because the test papers can then be sold to students and tuition teachers,” he added.

The theft must be an international embarrassment to both authorities in Singapore and London.

“But, this is certainly not a case vindicating the theft of test papers in Malaysia in the past. It should serve as a reminder to the authorities to not let their guards down,” he added.

Kesian the students who had to resit! Image from The Malaysian Times
Teachers sometimes like to torture their students with really difficult exam questions. We bet they all cackle evilly and exchange stories about it in the bilik guru (or at least that’s how it plays out in our heads la ¯\_(ツ)_/¯). But then THIS group of teachers did the opposite and bongkar all the questions for the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) exam in 2014.
They leaked it through WhatsApp, where it spread like wildfire. They were arrested for it of course. Education Director-General Khair Mohamad Yusof called them traitors who are not fit to be teachers. “There are some among us who are willing to sacrifice their integrity and tarnish the good reputation of the teaching profession. I consider the group as ‘guru nila setitik, bukan guru sejati’ (a few bad hat teachers who are not true teachers).” – he said
Because of the leak, students had to resit Science, English, Math and Tamil. So for people who already made holiday plans, cannot jalan la … for more, go to https://cilisos.my/8-ironic-times-msian-officers-were-caught-for-crimes-they-were-supposed-to-prevent/

Syed Razak, who is Gerakan’s nominee to contest N.37 Bukit Lanjan in the coming 14th General Election (GE14), said the federal government, namely the education ministries and the Examination Syndicate , should take note of the causes of the theft and learn from it to ensure it did not happen in Malaysia.

“Take some interest to find out what happened to the theft from Singapore and London. Learn from it as, obviously, there must be a loophole or lapse in security,” he added.

Syed Razak said such thefts cost much money, mass inconvenience, waste of time and resources.

“It will do well for the authorities to remain vigilant at all times, update on security measures and not to any matters for granted during sensitive times,” he added.

This was the Reuters report as posted by The Star Online:

"Singapore school test papers stolen in transit to British examiner

WORLD
Friday, 23 Feb 2018
6:12 PM MYT


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - More than 200 students in Singapore had part of their British-administered school leaving exam paper stolen when they were sent to be marked in Britain, the Singapore exam board said on Friday.

A parcel containing 238 scripts of the 2017 GCE A-Level H2 Chemistry's Paper 3 was stolen from a courier in Britain while on its way to the examiner, the board said, adding that British police were investigating.

Singaporeans are very focussed on academic excellence.

Parents can pay as much as $700 (351 pounds) for four-session courses of private tuition and some tutors have even become millionaires from their trade.

"SEAB and schools are in contact with them and their parents and will continue to provide them with the necessary support."

The exam board said the 238 affected students - who represented about 3 percent of those who sat the exam - had been given "valid and fair assessment" and all passed in results released on Friday.

The students' performance in the other papers and their cohorts' performance in the subject were used to determine their overall grade.

"Nobody expected something like that would happen," said Micole Lim, 18, who was one of 60 affected students from the Hwa Chong Institution.

"It was quite shocking".

All affected candidates have the option to register for a re-examination later in the year.

Lim said some of her friends said they would retake the exam but it was "not practical" as the initial tests took place several months ago and they would have to study again.More than 200 students in Singapore had part of their British-administered school leaving exam paper stolen when they were sent to be marked in Britain, the Singapore exam board said on Friday.

A parcel containing 238 scripts of the 2017 GCE A-Level H2 Chemistry's Paper 3 was stolen from a courier in Britain while on its way to the examiner, the board said, adding that British police were investigating.

Singaporeans are very focussed on academic excellence.

Parents can pay as much as $700 ($491) for four-session courses of private tuition and some tutors have even become millionaires from their trade.

"We understand the concerns that the affected candidates may have," said Tan Lay Choo, chief executive of Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB).

"SEAB and schools are in contact with them and their parents and will continue to provide them with the necessary support."

The exam board said the 238 affected students - who represented about 3 percent of those who sat the exam - had been given "valid and fair assessment" and all passed in results released on Friday.

The students' performance in the other papers and their cohorts' performance in the subject were used to determine their overall grade.

"Nobody expected something like that would happen," said Micole Lim, 18, who was one of 60 affected students from the Hwa Chong Institution.

"It was quite shocking".

All affected candidates have the option to register for a re-examination later in the year.

Lim said some of her friends said they would retake the exam but it was "not practical" as the initial tests took place several months ago and they would have to study again.

(Reporting by John Geddie and Dewey Sim; Editing by Robert Birsel)"

N.37 LET BUKIT LANJAN SOAR WITH SYED ABDUL RAZAK ALSAGOFF