Education Ministry beefs up security for matriculation exams

There has been a string of leaks of high school matriculation exams both in the Arab and Jewish sectors.

By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI
High school students from both the Jewish and Arab-Israeli sectors participate in the Debating Matters tournament (photo credit: ODED KARNI)
High school students from both the Jewish and Arab-Israeli sectors participate in the Debating Matters tournament
(photo credit: ODED KARNI)
The Education Ministry will take additional security measures to prevent leaks of the matriculation exams, it said on Sunday.
The announcement came following a string of leaks in recent months of high school matriculation exams both in the Arab and Jewish sectors.
As part of the measures, the ministry will send the matriculation exams in envelopes via courier services – as opposed to the traditional postal service – that will arrive at schools the morning of the exam or, in some cases, only 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the exams.
In addition, the ministry said it has hired escorts to receive the exams at the schools. The escort, along with the school principal and another school trustee, will be required to all sign a form stating that they received the questionnaires and that they are sealed and secured.
The escort will then remain with the exams until the test is administered.-- The English matriculation exam is set to be held on Monday, and the new security measures will already be in effect.
Michal Cohen, director- general of the Education Ministry, said the added security measures are meant to protect the “purity” of the exams and the rights of students to be tested fairly.
“We have full confidence in the principals, and accomplishments with values, integrity and purity come before any other achievement.
However, in light of the events that occurred in the past... the education ministry is preparing for security surrounding the exams, so that the students of Israel will be able to take exams without the fear of leaks,” she said.