DUBAI // Schoolchildren are using more sophisticated methods to cheat, including smartphones, wireless Bluetooth headsets and tiny, concealed cameras, education authorities say.
And school principals say the threat of suspension ordered recently by the Ministry of Education is failing to deter pupils, who believe they will not be caught with such devices.
"Pupils used to write on their hands or small chits before," said Taleb Al Attas, the principal of Al Ittihad Model School for boys in Abu Dhabi. "Now they use these small equipments, which makes it difficult for us."
Mr Al Attas gave the example of a pupil acting suspiciously during midterm exams in December.
"This child had taped his phone inside his ghutra [head covering] and was receiving answers from another person sitting in an air-conditioned car outside the school," he said.
Pupils were also found with pen cameras, which are widely sold.
Another principal at a government school in Ras Al Khaimah said teachers were constantly counselling children against cheating and plagiarism.
"You cannot stop the practice of cheating 100 per cent," said Mohammed Mulla, who did not want his school identified. "Despite repeated warnings they do not listen. We keep seeing dishonest behaviour during examinations."
Mr Mulla said the biggest giveaway was a pupil who looked distracted: "They keep twisting their head or whistle to others, and more commonly write things on small chits and hide them in their socks."
But the more modern devices were much harder to spot, he said.
Ministry officials say cheating has long been rampant in state and private schools.
Under ministry guidelines issued last year, a child found cheating will not be allowed to continue the exam and may be barred from future tests. Parents have to give a written undertaking that there will be no recurrence.
If caught a second time, pupils can be given five days of community service and suspended from school.
Plagiarism is also rife and on the rise, said Niloofer Rouhani, a sociologist and educator in Dubai.
"Although technology has made it easier for teachers and professors to catch plagiarism, it has also made it easy for youth to copy and paste other people's work," said Ms Rouhani, who has two school-age children.
"We should see why the ethical standards of our youth have deteriorated instead of trying to play catch-up with savvy students."
Al Ittihad Model School tries to help students caught cheating before reprimanding them. "Pupils who do not perform well tend to cheat and so we offer extra classes to them to avoid this," said Mr Al Attas.
"If this still happens we involve his parents and try to make them understand that it will spoil his future, and have our social workers counsel him."
Mr Mulla's school promotes group working, which he says is less stressful.
But the message is still not getting through. One 16-year-old at a state school in Ajman said he saw nothing wrong with his serial cheating.
"I was just asking a few answers because I had not studied that chapter and it was from my friend sitting behind," he said.
The pupil said he had heard about cheap Bluetooth devices that others were using.
"I have not tried it yet, but my friend showed it to me and it's really cool," he said.
aahmed@thenational.ae
City's slump
L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1
What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
Company%20Profile
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Ticket prices
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Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
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Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
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- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
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Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
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6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
