Two days before the annual mathematics bagrut (matriculation exam) was set to be given, Ministry of Education officials on Sunday learned the exam leaked out to students. The first reaction was to cancel the exam, viewed by most as the most difficult of the matriculation exams, but after consideration, officials have signaled the test will be given as scheduled.

It appears students sold it to one another for NIS 1,000, and officials eventually learned of what was taking place when one student showed the exam to a teacher, surprised at the content of the test.

A similar occurrence took place about 12 years ago, and since then, the security surrounding the exams has been increased. Education Ministry officials have reported the incident to police and an investigation is underway.

Ministry officials explain the exams are prepared months in advance and tomorrow, Tuesday, the ‘moed bet’ exam, the retest will be given, originally planned for the summer months. In the meantime, work is underway to design a new moed bet exam for the summer.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)