Algeria has turned off its Internet to stop students cheating in exams. Many students secretly go online during tests. The Internet stops for an hour after the start of each exam. The government will shut the Internet down during the exam season, which ends June 25. Also, devices with Internet access are banned from 2,000 exam centers. Even teachers cannot have their phones. There were many problems in 2016. Test questions were leaked online.
Algeria's Education Minister said Facebook would be blocked for the days of the exams. She said she needed to do something to stop cheating. For extra security, metal detectors are now in all exam halls. Security cameras and mobile-phone blockers are now at the companies where exams are printed. Many students like the government's actions. One said it was unfair that students who didn't study could cheat by using their mobile phone in tests.