Minister calls for honesty in exams

Minister for Education Francis Kikin Siune has called on students, teachers, parents and school authorities to uphold honesty and protect the integrity of Papua New Guinea's national examinations.

The Minister's call follows claims circulating on social media that the 2026 Grade 12 national examination papers have leaked, which the National Department of Education has confirmed are fake following checks by the Measurement Services Division.

In a statement, he said national examinations must reflect students' hard work, knowledge and preparation, not cheating or attempts to gain unfair advantages.

He warned individuals and groups attempting to sell fake examination papers or facilitate cheating to stop, saying the Department has been asked to follow up and identify who is behind the claims.

The Minister said schools found engaging in examination cheating will face serious consequences including deregistration, students may lose their eligibility for certification, while teachers involved face disciplinary action including termination.

He reminded provincial education authorities, inspectors, supervisors and school administrators of their responsibility to safeguard examination papers and maintain proper supervision throughout the examination period.

With Grade 12 examinations underway and Grade 8 examinations approaching, Minister Siune urged students to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified claims and concentrate on completing their examinations.