• Officials say hundreds of students caught cheating
• Board claims 95pc exam centres ‘completely secure’
• Videos of cheating, copying go viral
• Political parties concerned over mismanagement
KARACHI: As the ongoing matric examinations continue under the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK), multiple incidents of cheating, paper leaks and other irregularities have surfaced in the city, exposing the incompetence of the board which had been claiming a “zero tolerance” against such practices.
Videos circulating on social media showed students using mobile phones during examinations at various centres.
In Orangi Town, some private schools did not even send their candidates to officially designated centres and instead arranged unauthorised venues with fake permits to facilitate cheating.
Footage on social media showed students using mobile phones openly in the presence of invigilators at various centres, with little to no apparent enforcement of examination rules. At several centres, candidates were also seen copying from books and handwritten notes.
Faced with severe criticism by the public, school associations, the media as well as political parties, the board officials took action and suspended some superintendents at examination centres and also cancelled a few centres.
The board officials said that hundreds of students had been caught cheating and disciplinary action had been initiated against them.
As per statements issued by the board, the centre superintendent at Government Boys Secondary School, A. Area Kala Board, Malir, had been suspended.
Similarly, the board said a superintendent of a government boys secondary school in PECHS had been suspended.
The board statement added that new superintendents had been appointed along with additional external supervisors, while a special vigilance team had been constituted to assess the situation and take action where necessary.
Minister for Universities and Boards Ismail Rahoo conducted surprise visits to multiple examination centres, says a BSEK statement.
During these inspections, action was taken against institutions found involved in irregularities, with some centres cancelled and alternative venues designated.
Rahoo further warned that those found involved in malpractice could face blacklisting from appearing in board examinations in future years.
However, the situation has drawn harsh criticism from stakeholders.
‘External elements’
In a statement, the All Sindh Private Schools and Colleges Association alleged that “external elements” have taken control of hundreds of examination centres in Karachi, leaving a large number of students vulnerable.
The association termed the cancellation of two examination centres by the board a “symbolic action”, claiming it did not reflect the scale of the problem.
It criticised what it described as the board’s “zero tolerance” stance, saying it instead reflected “zero control” over examination centres.
It also alleged that solved papers were being shared via WhatsApp shortly after the start of exams and students were using mobile phones without restriction.
The association also raised security concerns, particularly at girls’ centres. It said interference by unauthorised persons and inadequate arrangements had created an atmosphere of unease among female students and their parents.
It also alleged frequent, unannounced changes in examination centres, claiming these had disrupted the process and contributed to administrative confusion.
Political parties see BSEK failure
Similarly, talking to Dawn, Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi said that cheating, paper leaks, and such irregularities were not happening for the first time; rather, these issues occur every year because the government and board authorities have failed to prevent them.
He said that various methods have been tried repeatedly, laws have been amended, and new measures have been introduced, but none have succeeded in curbing cheating.
Khurshidi was of the view that the only solution to this problem is a “complete revamp”. This alone can improve Karachi’s education system and the quality of education, which is currently in a very poor state.
“However, we cannot expect that from the Sindh government as it has consistently failed in this regard,” he added.
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) also criticised the examination process. In a statement, its Karachi chapter president Raja Azhar said repeated reports of paper leaks pointed to administrative failures at the BSEK and the “incompetence of the Sindh government”.
He alleged that a “cheating mafia” had been operating in the province for years and the future of Sindh’s youth was being destroyed.
Azhar claimed that, in some exam centres, teachers were taking bribes to provide students with so-called “VIP rooms” to facilitate cheating.
The PTI leader called for immediate action against those involved and measures to ensure transparency.
90 to 95pc exam centres are completely secure: BSEK controller
Dawn reached out to BSEK Controller of Examination Ahmed Khan Chutto.
When asked why such incidents occur every year despite the board’s claims of full preparedness, he responded that “Karachi is a very large city with 521 examination centres. It’s difficult to manage everything completely.”
However, he added that action is being taken wherever incidents of cheating and centre issues are reported.
Speaking specifically about paper leaks, he said that if a paper is leaked 10 to 12 hours in advance, students can take advantage of it; however, if it is leaked 15 to 20 minutes before the exam, it does not offer any real help to them.
Chutto also claimed that 90 to 95 per cent of examination centres in the city are completely secure and exams are being conducted there as per routine.
Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2026
