Kuwait imposes strict anti‑cheating controls for 2026 secondary school exams

Kuwait's Ministry of Education announced a comprehensive plan to prevent cheating in the 2026 secondary school examinations. The strategy includes establishing 613 exam clusters with 2,032 supervisory committees nationwide, deploying electronic wands and gate scanners to detect mobile phones, Bluetooth headphones, and smart watches, installing surveillance cameras in schools used for exams, and enforcing severe penalties – up to two years in prison and fines ranging from 10,000 to 200,000 Kuwaiti dinars – for students caught distributing or using exam materials.

Egyptian education expert Dr. Mohamed Saad cautioned that eliminating cheating entirely is unattainable, citing rapid technological advances, intense academic pressure, and the prevalence of multiple‑choice formats that facilitate answer sharing. He urged a broader approach that diversifies assessment methods, strengthens ethical culture, and reduces reliance on rote memorization to make cheating less attractive and less effective.