Marks manipulation scandal uncovered at Abbottabad university

An inquiry committee has uncovered evidence of alleged manipulation of students' marks through the examination system at Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, including unauthorised access to its Learning Management System (LMS), according to its findings.

ABBOTABAD: An inquiry committee has uncovered evidence of alleged manipulation of students’ marks through the examination system at Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, including unauthorised access to its Learning Management System (LMS), according to its findings.

The committee said it had identified four individuals allegedly responsible for the manipulation and eight others as alleged facilitators.

The inquiry was launched to investigate allegations that students’ marks had been altered through unauthorised access to the university’s LMS.

The committee said it had obtained evidence including financial transaction records, mobile messages, student statements and other electronic material during its investigation.

It said academic records of relevant students, including those enrolled in computer science and software engineering programmes, were examined along with their access to the LMS.

The findings indicated that certain individuals had allegedly gained unauthorised access to the system and altered students’ marks, the committee said.

Financial transactions were also examined as part of the inquiry. The committee said it had verified transaction receipts and account records that reportedly showed transfers of money between students and alleged facilitators.

The committee also reviewed screenshots of mobile messages and conversations involving students, payments and matters related to the LMS.

A preliminary inquiry found evidence of marks being manipulated for 75 students who allegedly paid bribes, with the committee also obtaining evidence of the alleged payments.

The committee recommended a formal digital forensic examination of mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices to establish who accessed the LMS, when the access occurred, how it was obtained and which accounts or devices were allegedly used to alter the marks.

It also recommended that the inquiry continue for another one to two months and that academic results from previous semesters be reviewed as part of the investigation.

The committee recommended cancelling the allegedly altered marks and restoring the original marks awarded by the relevant teachers or departments.