Ethiopia's Ministry of Education is preparing to administer the 2018 EC 12th grade national exam entirely online. In previous years, the exam combined paper and online formats, but this year it will be online only. This shift aims to curb cheating and irregularities in exam administration.
Addis Ababa, February 9, 2018 (Fana) – Ethiopia's Ministry of Education has announced that the 12th grade preparatory national exam for this academic year will be administered entirely online.
Minister Birhanu Nega (PhD) stated in a briefing that preparations are underway to deliver this exam solely through the internet. Unlike the previous two years, when it combined paper and online methods, this year's exam will be online only.
The ministry is providing various forms of support to regions to facilitate this transition. It is collaborating with Ethio Telecom to ensure sufficient internet access at exam centers. Regions are required to prepare adequate computers, networks, and backup power supplies. Additionally, providing sufficient training to students is essential, the minister emphasized.
The ministry has urged regions and city administrations facing challenges to offer the necessary support. This reform effort seeks to minimize irregularities and cheating in the education and exam administration system. For context, last year, 134,828 students took the exam online, representing 23.2 percent of total examinees.
