Expedient or Extreme? Algeria Blocks Social Media to Combat Exam Malpractices

One of the downsides of social media and other technological advancements is the devious uses to which they could be put, and sadly, this has had a telling effect on the educational sector in recent times.

Students have been known to exploit the multi-functionality of state of the art gadgets such as smart watches and Google glasses, while other PDAs have more often than not rendered illegal assistance.

It is in light of this trend that Algeria has temporarily blocked access to social media across the country as they look to rein in exam cheats.

The BBC reports that almost half of their secondary school students are being forced to retake the baccalaureate exam, starting on Sunday, after the initial session was marred by online leaking.

Many students were able to access questions on Facebook and other social media ahead of the exam in early June, as the North African country continues to grapple with baccalaureate leaks.

The decision to block social media was taken to protect students from publication of “bogus questions on those networks”, officials told the country’s APS news agency.

It’s a similar threat in Nigeria as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had to nullify almost half the results in this year’s exams following widespread hitches and irregularities with the adoption of the Computer-Based Test (CBT).

As JAMB pledges to upgrade its facilities in the coming years, it may not be long before a social media gag is instituted in Africa’s most populous nation.

OJPals, what do you think? Tell us in the comments!

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