Officials say the step aims to prevent impersonation and organized cheating during the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations. More than 6,000 students appearing at high-risk centers are being verified through biometric systems before entering examination halls.
The annual matric exams will begin on March 27 across Punjab. According to the approved timetable, Class 10 examinations will start first. BISE Lahore spokesperson Tahir Javed said the biometric system is being used only at sensitive centers where cheating has been reported in the past.
“In sensitive examination centers, biometric attendance of candidates is being ensured to prevent impersonation and maintain transparency,” he said. He added that the move is mainly aimed at eliminating the so-called “booti mafia.”
These organized groups help students cheat during exams by providing solved answers or arranging impersonators to sit the exam in place of candidates. In addition to biometric verification, examination centers will also be monitored through CCTV cameras.
The cameras are connected to online monitoring systems that allow authorities to observe exam activities live from central control rooms. Officials say this system will help authorities closely monitor examination halls and take immediate action if any irregularities are detected.
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Millions of students across Punjab are expected to appear in the matric exams conducted by the province’s nine education boards. These boards include Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, and Dera Ghazi Khan.
Education experts say conducting exams for such a large number of students remains a major challenge. They say the wide network of examination centers often makes it difficult to eliminate cheating.
However, officials believe that modern technology, such as biometric verification and CCTV monitoring, can significantly reduce unfair practices. Education authorities also plan surprise visits and inspections during the exams to ensure strict monitoring.
Officials hope these steps will restore public trust in the examination system and ensure that results reflect students’ real efforts and merit. The new measures have been introduced at the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
“The government is taking every possible step to eliminate cheating and ensure transparency in the examination system,” Javed said.
