The hiring of extra proofreaders to check public examination papers might not prevent a repeat of errors such as those in last year's public exams, according to an Ombudsman's report.
The report unveiled yesterday said that the problem lay with the vigilance of the readers, and not the number of times that papers were checked.
Errors were found in eight A-level and Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) papers last year. The Ombudsman's Office launched an investigation into the blunders in May last year.
The authority announced in January that it would bring in an extra 1,000 proofreaders and assessors to check every paper starting from this year's public exams. An extra three proofreaders and an assessor will be hired to check each paper. The new arrangements will cost $1 million.
In its report, the Office of the Ombudsman concluded that inadequate vigilance was the main cause of the blunders. It said, however, that existing systems for preparing and checking exam papers are 'basically sound and effective'.
'The flaws have been caused not by defects in the system but the deficiencies in implementation and inadequate vigilance,' the report said.
Examinations Authority deputy secretary Eva Poon Scott said checking the papers with 'fresh eyes' could help minimise the risk of blunders.
