Teacher syndicate reports Tawjihi cheating as ministry disputes claims

AMMAN — While the Jordan Teachers Association (JTA) on Wednesday reported cheating cases in the General Secondary Certificate Examination (Tawjihi), the Education Ministry insisted that no such violations were committed.

In a statement the JTA said it received several complaints in the first week of the Tawjihi winter session that test papers were circulated via WhatsApp and Facebook prior to the exam.

The association also said that its operations room received complaints about cases of collective cheating at examination halls in Northeastern Badia.

However, the ministry warned against campaigns that seek to “hamper the reputation of the exam and spread confusion”.

In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the ministry said rumours circulated on social media websites about cheating cases are baseless and copies of exam papers posted on these sites were taken after the tests ended.

“Each exam paper is opened under the supervision of five different bodies,” Education Minister Mohammad Thneibat said in the statement.

He underlined that violations recorded in the Tawjihi session so far are less than in previous years, noting that violators are punished or referred for legal action, Petra reported.

Up until Monday, a total of 141 violations were registered in the Tawjihi winter session, which started on December 27, according to the ministry. 

The exam committees have taken the necessary measures against violators, including warning some and banning others from sitting for the exam for one, two or four years, the minister said.

A total of 161,309 students registered for the Tawjihi winter session, which concludes on January 11 and is held under the supervision of 130,000 exam monitors at 1,500 examination halls located at 480 schools.