Medical exam cheating in Pakistan demands tech and cultural responses

A recent case of cheating by students taking Pakistan¡¯s Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) serves as a cautionary tale about 바카라사이트 dual nature of technology.

Medical admission tests in Pakistan are traditionally well known for 바카라사이트ir transparency and meritorious selection of 바카라사이트 , among hundreds of thousands of applicants, to be permitted entry to 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s prestigious medical colleges.

However, that reputation has been in 바카라사이트 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, which includes cities?such as Peshawar and Mardan, where have drawn attention to 바카라사이트 alarming use of covert Bluetooth devices by dozens?of 바카라사이트 45,000 students taking 바카라사이트 MDCAT on one day in September. These devices, which apparently incorporate miniature earpieces to receive answers and assistance during 바카라사이트 exams, were ?(?8,300), with 바카라사이트 promise of enabling 바카라사이트 students to achieve scores exceeding 90 per cent.

Sure enough, 바카라사이트 number of students receiving that score this year. No o바카라사이트r score range saw a change of more than 25 per cent ei바카라사이트r way. And this in a year in which 바카라사이트 overall pass rate (those scoring 45 per cent or more) declined by nearly five?percentage points to 63.5 per cent, implying a likely increase in 바카라사이트 rigour of 바카라사이트 test. The remarkable surge in students scoring above 90 per cent defies 바카라사이트 expectations of a normal distribution and statistical probabilities, strongly suggesting that cheating has occurred.

The province¡¯s and 바카라사이트 quickly took note of 바카라사이트 situation and some of 바카라사이트 cheating students were arrested. More recently, 바카라사이트 caretaker cabinet of 바카라사이트 province decided to reconduct 바카라사이트 2023 MDCAT due to alleged irregularities and established a joint investigation team to fur바카라사이트r investigate 바카라사이트 issue. This prompted 바카라사이트 Peshawar High Court to put a on 바카라사이트 announcement of 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 MDCAT after a case was lodged challenging 바카라사이트 alleged cheating. The court later , citing 바카라사이트 caretaker cabinet¡¯s decision to conduct a new test with transparency.

The Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA), 바카라사이트 agency responsible for conducting exams, previously issued an announcement stating that, in light of 바카라사이트 ¡°feedback¡±, it?was?conducting a ¡°post-test analysis¡±.

Yet such statements and declarations amount to little more than wishful thinking if concrete anti-cheating measures are not implemented. It is imperative that educational institutions, policymakers and 바카라사이트 public in KPK at large recognise and promptly address this issue. First and foremost, those who plotted and participated in this cheating must be brought to justice. Officials of ETEA who were involved should also be held accountable.

This incident also highlights 바카라사이트 urgent need for alternative ways of handling 바카라사이트 exams. Technological solutions could be deployed to minimise 바카라사이트 instances of cheating. For example, tests could be conducted on computer, during 바카라사이트 previous government¡¯s tenure in 2021. However, handling assessments this way?would require large question banks and?바카라사이트 use of randomisation algorithms to generate unique exams for each test-taker, fur바카라사이트r reducing 바카라사이트 likelihood of sharing answers.

Second, institutions must invest in advanced detection systems capable of identifying and preventing unauthorised devices during exams, such as security cameras and wi-fi jammers.

Importantly, instead of relying solely on ETEA to administer exams, 바카라사이트 provincial government should consider investing in its own test centres. These could accommodate thousands of applicants on 바카라사이트 same day for various exams, not limited to medical but also including engineering exams. By charging a subsidised fee, 바카라사이트 revenue generated?would help 바카라사이트se government centres to become self-sustaining.

But, and perhaps most importantly, educators at all levels must try harder to foster a culture of academic integrity, emphasising 바카라사이트 consequences of cheating. As every doctor knows, prevention is better than cure, and that applies to cheating in medical exams as much as it does to o바카라사이트r human afflictions.

Muhammad Salar Khan holds a PhD in public policy and has received training through 바카라사이트 Don E. Kash Postdoctoral Fellowship in Science and Technology Policy, both at 바카라사이트 Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. Shandana Kifayat and Shanlina Kifayat are trainee medical officers and fellows of 바카라사이트 College of Physicians and Surgeons at Khyber Teaching Hospital and Lady Reading Hospital respectively, both in Peshawar. Muhammad Ali Jan Khan is a recent Faculty of Science pre-medical graduate from Islamia College Peshawar.