Manama: A major university in the Saudi capital Riyadh has expelled three students and taken action against 182 others for cheating in the final exams.
The three students had asked other people to impersonate them and sit for the end-of-the-year exams that started last week, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University said.
Other cheating attempts included the use of mobile phones and special earphones, taking pictures of the questions, putting pressure on supervisors and causing chaos inside the exam rooms.
Those who were caught attempting to defraud the university were suspended for up to six courses as per the rules, the distance learning section of the university said, Saudi news site Sabq reported on Thursday.
Around 69,000 students enrolled at the university are taking the end of the academic year exams in 219 centres throughout the vast country.
The university, founded in 1951 as a college for Sharia and given university status in 1974, comprises 11 colleges, including five in Riyadh. It has institutes for teaching Arabic and religion both in Saudi Arabia and abroad.
The university this year suspended taking in new students for its distance education programme.
Online users harshly criticised the cheating students, saying that they were a disgrace to a university focused on promoting religious values.
“The figure of 180 students is truly staggering and I am shocked they were admitted in the first place,” Haneen Abdullah said. “I believe the university should think of making applicants sit for a test of morals before it takes them in.”
Another user said that the students should be shamed openly.
“How could these students accept to disobey God, defraud the university and deceive all those who trusted them? Their behaviour is utterly unacceptable and they should be shamed for attempting to dupe society and cheat their way to success,” Hana posted.
