PNG moves to reinforce national exam integrity

Papua New Guinea is stepping up efforts to protect the integrity of its national examinations, following renewed concerns raised by education officials over security lapses.
At a gathering of Provincial Education Advisors in the capital, stakeholders agreed that safeguarding Grade 12 examinations must remain a top priority to maintain confidence in the system.
The Measurement Services Division told the meeting that weaknesses persist in key stages of exam handling, including printing, storage and delivery, leaving room for potential tampering.

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Education leaders admitted that past incidents involving compromised papers had damaged trust, and stressed that stronger safeguards are needed to prevent a repeat.
One of the major proposals was to involve security personnel in escorting examination materials, particularly in areas considered vulnerable due to distance or limited oversight.
Participants also highlighted the importance of tracking student performance from early years, saying this could help detect inconsistencies that may indicate cheating.
Discussions extended to the role of technology, with artificial intelligence identified as a possible tool to strengthen monitoring, although access challenges remain in many parts of the country.
Low-cost alternatives were also explored, including the use of radio broadcasts and supervised projection of exam questions for schools in remote communities.
Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra noted that while multiple exam paper versions had improved security in the past, recent breaches showed that systems must continue to evolve.
“We will continue to strengthen our systems and closely check examination results to make sure they are fair and truly reflect students’ performance,” Dr Kombra said.

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