Fresh details have emerged about the alleged leakage of Cambridge O/A Level examination papers, with a parliamentary committee being informed that investigators found no evidence linking the incident to Pakistan.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was briefed on Monday about the issue during a meeting chaired by acting Chairman Anjum Aqeel Khan.
According to the briefing, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) investigated the alleged paper leakage but found no evidence establishing that the papers had originated from Pakistan.
Leaked O/A Level papers Cambridge: Did papers come from Pakistan?
The committee was informed that the alleged Leaked O/A Level papers Cambridge issue may have originated from another country.
However, NCCIA officials reportedly told the committee that the agency does not have direct access to servers located abroad. This limits its ability to independently determine the source, location and method involved in any alleged leakage through overseas servers.
The development has raised questions over who leaked O/A Level papers and whether the Cambridge examination papers were actually leaked or stolen.
Cambridge papers stolen or leaked?
The IBCC executive director told the committee that similar incidents involving Cambridge papers had reportedly been occurring for the past three years.
A committee member questioned the source of the papers and claimed that the papers were not being leaked from London but from Pakistan.
The IBCC official, however, said action was taken after a paper was leaked on April 29. Cambridge was contacted by email and asked to reschedule two cancelled papers within the same examination series to protect affected students.
The Ministry of Interior was also approached, while NCCIA was directed to investigate the matter.
According to the briefing, NCCIA subsequently concluded that there was no evidence that the papers had been leaked from Pakistan.
Cambridge says papers were stolen
Another major detail discussed during the meeting was Cambridge’s position on the incident.
The IBCC official said Cambridge’s stance was that the examination papers had been stolen rather than leaked.
Cambridge reportedly acknowledged that the incident affected candidates in 80 countries. To address the impact, average marks were awarded to candidates in two affected papers, according to the IBCC briefing.
The IBCC has also formed an inquiry committee headed by Director General Usman Khan to investigate the matter.
Special Cambridge papers prepared for Pakistan
The committee was further informed that Cambridge is preparing special examination papers for Pakistan.
According to the briefing, these papers will be sent to Pakistan through email shortly before the examinations, apparently as part of measures to prevent similar incidents.
The issue of Leaked O/A Level papers Cambridge has caused concern among students and parents, particularly over the fairness and security of international examinations.
Government ordered probe into paper leakage
The government had ordered an investigation in May following concerns over the alleged leakage of Cambridge examination papers.
NCCIA was directed to investigate the matter in coordination with Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) after concerns were raised by parents and students.
The latest parliamentary briefing has now added another dimension to the controversy, with investigators unable to establish a Pakistani source while Cambridge reportedly maintains that the papers were stolen.
What we know about the Cambridge paper controversy
- NCCIA found no evidence that the leakage originated from Pakistan.
- The agency does not have direct access to overseas servers.
- Similar Cambridge paper incidents were reportedly reported over the past three years.
- Cambridge said the incident affected candidates in 80 countries.
- Cambridge reportedly considers the incident a case of stolen papers rather than leaked papers.
- Special examination papers are being prepared for Pakistan.
- An IBCC inquiry committee is investigating the matter.
The parliamentary committee is expected to continue examining the issue as authorities seek to establish how the papers were obtained and where the security breach occurred.
