Kuwait: Hacker demands paper exams be scrapped
Education Ministry insists on paper exams as real tool to gauge students’ levels
Cairo: Kuwait’s education authorities have said they have retrieved the ministry’s website hacked earlier this week by an anonymous person demanding cancellation of paper examinations for secondary school students.
In response, the ministry said it will go ahead with the paper exams, calling the hacking bid a “dismal and desperate attempt” that will not block exam reforms.
“The act reflects the hacker’s lack of responsibility that is liable to law,” Education Ministry’s acting undersecretary Faisal Al Maqsid said in media remarks.
“The Education Ministry sees it is important to conduct paper tests, especially for the 12th graders who must be qualified for the university education. Therefore, there should be a real test to gauge students’ levels,” he added.
“The ministry will take into consideration the type of the distance learning being applied in the country because of the coronavirus and the exam questions will be suitable for students’ levels,” the official said.
The ministry, he added, will abide by health precautions against COVID-19 in schools where exams will be held. The secondary school exams are due to start in May.
Some sources supported the ministry’s decision to conduct paper exams.
“The hacking bid lends credence to the decision to hold paper exams, considering that the hacker managed to pirate software and electronic equipment, which can also happen with online exams,” a source said.