The Algerian government has taken a decision to turn off internet nationwide during high school exams in order to prevent cheating.

Over 700,000 students are expected to sit the Diploma high school certificate examinations over the next one week.

However, in a bid to tackle cheating, authorities have taken a decision to turn off internet services across the country when the exams is ongoing.

Algeria installed metal detectors at exam halls and video cameras in locations where question papers were printed in a bid to avoid cheating. Source: Getty Images
The BBC reports that internet service, both mobile and fixed line, will go off for an hour after the start of each paper in a bid to stop any leaks.

This was arrived at following widespread cheating in previous examinations undertaken by high school students.

In 2016, for instance, cheating was so severe that questions were leaked online before and during tests.

This led to authorities asking internet service providers to stop social media access last year, but the voluntary measures were not enough.

Algeria’s Minister of Education, Nouria Benghabrit, further confirmed that Facebook would also be blocked across the country throughout the entire examination period.

She told Algerian newspaper Annahar that whiles it is a tough decision to take, that is the best way to stop cheating at the examination centres.

She added that surveillance cameras and mobile phone jammers had been installed at exam printing presses to help detect those to engage in exams malpractices.

The nationwide turn off of internet will last throughout the exam season, from 20-25 June.