PESHAWAR, March 25: The elementary and secondary education department has failed to check cheating during the ongoing secondary school certificate examinations in Peshawar, it is learnt.

Students of private and government schools told Dawn on condition of anonymity that cheating was more prevalent in examination halls of private schools than those of government schools, as the administration of private schools wanted to show good results at any cost for attracting parents to enroll their children.

They said invigilators at government schools comparatively kept students in control.

Students alleged that invigilators apprised students of correct answers of multiple choice questions (MCQs) carrying 15 marks after getting it through a message on their cellphones from the school administrations.

However, a student of a Kohat Road government school said invigilators didn’t tell students correct answers of MCQs and instead, they were allowed to ask each other on the conditions of making no noise.

A student of a private school in Hayatabad told Dawn that there was no check on cheating in examination halls of his school.

“We get answers of MCQs and long questions from outside the hall through a person appointed by the school administration. Invigilators act as silent spectator because they all are deputed at the desire of the administration,” he said.

He claimed administration of his school charged Rs3,000 from each student as ‘cheating fee’.

The situation upsets students, who work hard throughout the year, said a father.

“If cheating isn’t stopped, then students will stop taking interest in studies and rather they will opt for cheating to easily get high marks,” he said.

When contacted, Peshawar BISE Chairman Dr Mohammad Shafi said cheating in examinations couldn’t be stopped completely though it had been controlled to some extent.

“Of the 444 examination halls, 155 have been declared ‘sensitive’, where inspectors constantly pay visits,” he said.

When asked ‘guides’ available at bookshops, he said he had asked DCOs three months ago to ban sale of such material for being useless.

He said a complaint cell had been set up at BISE Peshawar offices, where officials took necessary action on complaints without delay.