Ethiopian authorities have blocked internet access across the country in a move to preserve the integrity of national exams currently underway, internet rights group Net Blocks said on Tuesday.
The group said it had confirmed a total blackout “as of 7:30 a.m. UTC 11 June 2019. The incident is ongoing, and is believed to be a measure to counter cheating during national school exams.”
It added that despite no official confirmation from government or the sole telecom operator, Ethio Telecom, data show that connectivity from the operator has been disconnected at a record time.
BBC Amharic also confirmed the outage which starts on the second day of the nationwide exams. Africanews’ request for clarification from Ethio Telecom has yet to receive a response.
Ethiopia has in years back blocked the internet for the particular reason. In justifying the measure back in 2017, an official told Reuters: “The shutdown is aimed at preventing a repeat of leaks that occurred last year.
“We are being proactive. We want our students to concentrate and be free of the psychological pressure and distractions that this brings,” Mohammed Seid, of the then Office for Government Communications Affairs added.
The Grade 10 and 12 exams are for university entrance purposes and also for enrollment into national vocational courses. Thousands of students take the exams annually usually between late May and June.
The Minister of Education, Tilaye Gete Ambaye, on Sunday (June 9) whiles wishing candidates luck tasked them to be ethical in their dealings.
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