Q Should phones and PDAs be banned from exams? The controversy over the possible use of mobile phones by students in the HKCEE examination to cheat by accessing the internet is in fact a sad reflection on our society. It is a society where the mobile phone rules all, including common sense. No one can enjoy a cinema outing here without interruptions from inconsiderate members of the audience who not only take but also make calls. On any bus or train your ears will be deafened by fellow passengers shouting at the top of their voices into their handsets, either totally oblivious to or totally unconcerned about the cacophony they are making. Mobile phones these days invade every place and situation imaginable, from board meetings to waiting rooms. Not a solitary social situation appears immune to the compulsion of answering calls or reading and replying immediately to text messages. At my work I am daily annoyed by a dozen ring tones, each competing in the volume stakes with the next and 'individual' only in their crassness, on handsets that are invariably unattended but never set to silent mode. Far too many phone users - including examination candidates who, in increasing numbers every year, forget to turn off their phones - appear to have a complete disregard for simple courtesy and display no evidence of even basic manners. So, why should we now tolerate the presence of these devices in the examination rooms of our schools and colleges? Indeed, toleration seems to have given way to a general and unchallenged assumption that students will be in possession of personal phones during examinations. Why should this be the case? What possible purpose could the presence of a mobile phone serve to any student in the course of a test? How ever did previous generations of students sit their examinations without mobile phones? We have allowed a ludicrous situation to develop out of the idiotic belief that use of a mobile phone is a personal right and that individuals might need them in an 'emergency'. Other than the known probability of a Hong Kong-wide earthquake or impending chemical warfare attack (in which case the examinations will be suspended anyway), I can't think of any reason that would warrant carte blanche permission for a student to have a mobile phone on their person during a public examination. Should any emergency arise it can be handled in the same way they were always handled in the past: by calls to or from the examination centre on behalf of concerned candidates. Messages can be relayed, problems resolved afterwards. Sometimes our society is blinded by its own self-centredness. The solution to this alleged cheating problem is right in front of our eyes - simply ban all mobile phones from examination centres for the duration of any examination. It's common sense, not rocket science. Gerard Crawford, Laguna City I think phones and PDAs should be banned from exams immediately because by doing so it will ensure all exams are fair for every student. However, the problem is which methods are the best to ban use of these phones and PDAs during exams. Today, all phones and PDAs from students should be put under their chair during examinations to prevent them from using it during toilet breaks. However, students can bring two phones into exams. One phone they put under their chair, another one they use for cheating. In addition, technology advances rapidly. Some people think the location of exams should be fitted with signal-jamming apparatus. However, I believe some students can solve it or use other methods to cheat. Moreover, students should be educated to prevent cheating. But students are human. Some humans are eager to cheat. People said the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority cannot prevent cheating in exams properly. However, it is unfair that all this responsibility is put on the examinations authority. Students should bear the responsibility. So, I think the government should introduce laws to prohibit students from cheating in exams. Cheating in exams deprives students of fair competition. So introducing a law to ban it is reasonable. Boris Chan, Ho Man Tin The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) has to bear some of the blame for the recent episode of dishonesty during an English language examination. Why on earth did the authority choose to use a text from the internet? Yes, it is essential to cite the source, but this need not have been the URL address. It could just as easily have been the webpage's author and title. By providing the URL, the authority provided a direct temptation to many candidates. All hand-phones should be 'checked in' at the entrance to examination halls, and their owners provided with a numbered token for collection later. There is no reason whatsoever for any examination candidate to have a telephone within reach. No reason at all. Pauline Bunce, Heng Fa Chuen In theory, I believe that mobile phones, PDAs and all other devices capable of retrieving information and data should be banned from public examinations. This will send a strong message that the examinations authority strives against any possible misconduct undermining the fairness of examinations. Practically, however, I admit that the ban may be quite difficult for centre supervisors to realise. It is easy for cheaters to dodge surveillance. Hiding their tiny phones or connecting to the Web via unregistered sim cards may be effective strategies. It is irresponsible for the examinations authority to scapegoat the candidates for not exercising their good conduct, or the supervisors for not monitoring candidates tightly, while denying its own duty to close the loophole. I urge the chiefs of the examinations authority to avoid reproducing a whole passage from the Web. Besides, any passage transferred from other media should be substantially modified. The chiefs of the examinations authority should reflect on their own mismanagement, not scapegoat others. Chan Siu-wah, Sham Tseng As a future candidate of the HKCEE, I am disturbed by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority's questionable measures against mobile phone cheats during examinations. Without doubt, hand phones and PDAs should be banned from the examination room. This is a common practice worldwide. Just by leaving phones under the candidate's desk may cause other problems, such as stealing. It is also possible that students may carry an additional phone into the examination room. They can easily use their second phone for cheating during their washroom breaks. But just physically banning phones may not be sufficient to prevent cheatings. PDA phones are just one of the many ways for desperate cheaters. I personally think that it is more important for the authority to educate Hong Kong student about ethics in examinations. It is more important to be honest than to get high marks. Lindy Tong, Ho Man Tin On other matters... Much has been said and written about copyright piracy in the movie industry. As usual, the US is screaming the loudest and is blaming everybody else, as is the case on other issues as well. Unless the movie industry recognises the change of customer demands and habits, copyright piracy will unfortunately continue, despite best efforts by the authorities. Instead of protecting the monopoly of movie theatres, the movie industry should release new movies simultaneously on DVD, giving the consumer the choice to watch these movies in a cinema or the privacy and comfort of their homes. The current time delay of about six months for releases on DVD is obviously a major attraction for copyright offenders. Part of a reasonably priced DVD could even be used to subsidise movie theatres. No doubt simultaneous releases would see a sharp decrease in piracy. Name and address supplied I am very pleased that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has installed costly fireproof doors at the newly remodelled changing area inside the Victoria Park swimming pool complex. Smokers may now choose any of the private rooms to puff. Thanks to the LCSD for doing a great job. Name and address supplied
