HSC paper not compromised: Minister

The Grade 11 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Dhivehi examination paper was not compromised, despite similarities to revision questions, education minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu has said.

Students had reported that some questions in last Saturday’s and yesterday’s Dhivehi exams matched those used in revisions at the Centre for Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), raising concerns that the paper had been prepared by a CHSE teacher.

Minister Shafeeu told Mihaaru News the paper was set by a full-time staff member of the Department of Public Examinations (DPE), not by a CHSE teacher.

He said that essays used in the HSC Dhivehi exam are taken from a well-known author’s book, which schools and institutions often use when preparing revision material.

“This time it happened by coincidence,” he said.

“I give 100 percent assurance that the paper is not compromised.”

The minister also noted a similar issue had arisen with a Grade 10 O Level paper in a northern island, where a revision question matched the exam.

However, he said the revision was conducted before the official papers had reached Maldives.

Although Minister Shafeeu denied any compromise of the Grade 11 Dhivehi exam, he said improvements would be made. DPE will be reviewed and strengthened with the support of a consultant, he added.