In a major step towards fairer and more transparent exams, the Punjab School Education Department (SED) has introduced face detection technology for the first time during the annual Matric Exams.
On Monday, Punjab’s Minister for School Education, Rana Sikandar Hayat, and Chairman Task Force for Education, Muzammil Mehmood, made surprise visits to examination centers on Raiwind Road, Lahore. During their inspections, they checked student identities using 3D barcodes and assessed the overall exam arrangements. Officials also gathered student feedback on the new security measures.
Speaking about the initiative, Minister Hayat highlighted that the new monitoring system has greatly reduced incidents of cheating.
“Examination centers on Raiwind Road were once hotspots for cheating, but with our latest security measures, we have managed to eliminate almost 90% of cheating cases. This is a huge step toward ensuring fairness in exams,” he stated.
According to official data, the number of reported cheating cases has dropped from 15-20 per day last year to just 2-3 this year. The initiative aligns with the Punjab Chief Minister’s vision of achieving a completely transparent examination system by next year.
Technology-Driven Reforms to Ensure Fair Exams
To further enhance security and prevent fraud, several technological improvements have been introduced across Punjab’s education system:
- QR-Coded Roll Number Slips – The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Lahore has rolled out QR-coded roll number slips for students. These digital slips provide quick access to personal information and verification to prevent identity fraud.
- Automated Staff Deployment – A computerized system now assigns examination staff randomly, ensuring fair distribution and preventing any favoritism or malpractice.
- Special Monitoring Teams – Dedicated teams have been deployed in Daska, Wazirabad, Gujranwala, and Lahore to keep a close watch on examination centers and prevent unfair practices.
The 2025 matriculation exams, which started on March 4, will continue until March 24, with strict monitoring to maintain exam integrity.
Controller of Examinations Zahid Mian emphasized that these reforms are designed to provide students with a secure, fair, and efficient exam process.
With these advanced security measures, Punjab is setting a new benchmark in educational transparency, ensuring that students are assessed purely on merit without any outside interference.
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