Staff Reporter :Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) found that a section of government employees involved with preparing and distributing question papers of public examinations. The private stakeholders and coaching centres are also involved in leaking questions. “Officials of Primary Education Directorate, education boards, BG Press as well as local administrations have reportedly been involved with question paper leakage incidents. Coaching centres, guidebook traders, photocopy shops, applicants and sometimes guardians play active role in circulating the leaked question papers,” the TIB said. The TIB claimed it in a press briefing at Midas Centre in the capital city’s Dhanmondi on Wednesday. The TIB officials disclosed the findings of a study on question paper leak ahead of public examinations. The TIB also said that they had received allegations of involvement of Bangladesh Chhatra League, student body of ruling Awami League, in it. Nihar Ranjan Roy and Rumana Sharmin, Deputy Programme Managers (research and policy), revealed the findings in the press conference.Executive Director of TIB Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Deputy Executive Director Dr Sumaya Khayer, and Research and Policy Director Mohammad Rafiqul Islam were present, among others, at the press conference. Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, leaking question papers has become unabated in the country where a section of government employees are involved. “Coaching centres and guidebook traders are also involved with it,” he said adding about Tk 32,000 crore is being exchanged in coaching trade in the country each year, quoting Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid as saying.The research findings show that money transaction upto Tk 20,000 take place in each question paper “business” that has been taking place “for four years since 2012”, TIB report said.The report said, in Bangladesh, the Secondary School Certificate test question papers were first leaked in 1979. Even though the disturbing trend started in the 1970s, the frequency of question leaks rose over the past five years. It said, question papers of all subjects in Primary School Certificate and Junior School Certificate examinations were leaked in 2013 and 2014.From 2012 to this year, question papers of some 63 public examinations were allegedly leaked.The study recommended for amending the government’s existing policy on coaching centres to impose restriction on coaching trade, and to increase facility to teachers to ensure education-friendly atmosphere in schools, colleges and other education institutions.It also suggested strengthening monitoring on use of ICT and bringing offenders involved with question paper leakages to justice.
