Internet exam results aid transparency

Exam results for bachelor university degrees in Iraq will be released on the internet this year in an effort to increase transparency and because of continuing insecurity. "We are now in a democratic country and results on the internet will help to prevent students from getting extra marks and cheating as it will go directly from the correction room to the internet site with final approval from the ministry of education," general director of baccalaureate exams at the Ministry of Education (MoE), Sabah al-Jaffe, said. In the past, students closely linked with the government could rely on being awarded better results, critics of the system have said. The new system will increase transparency, according to officials. "During Saddam Hussein’s regime my brother got high marks and he could have chosen to specialise and train in medicine, which is really hard to get into. But due to corruption he lost the place to another person. Today, I hope to make my dream come true by entering one of these good training colleges," student Sinan Madeen said. Those receiving high grades have the chance to choose from training courses considered to be the best in the country. Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and civil engineering colleges are among the most popular choices for high-achieving students. Exam results are made public every year in July and the previous lengthy procedures leading to the publication of results were taking an emotional toll on students, according to officials. In addition to results being made available on the internet, other even more radical methods of accessing results are being introduced. Students will be able to use mobile phones to send a text message quoting their registration number to receive a test telling them how they have performed in exams.