Female Egyptian students Source: WikiMedia

Egypt's education ministry has announced new amendments that toughen penalties for cheating during school exams, state news agency Ahram Online reported on Monday.

The new law introduces civil and penal sanctions, as cheats could now be fined up to 200,000 Egyptian pounds ($11,055) and sentenced to a maximum of seven years in jail.

The decision comes as students sit for the nationwide standardized high school final exams known as "Thanaweya Amma," following repeated incidents of exam leaks in previous years.

Under the amended law, which has been ratified by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, violators face two to seven years in jail as well as EGP 100,000 ($5,527) to EGP 200,000 ($11,055) in fines. Penalties are imposed on anyone who "prints, publishes, broadcasts or promotes exam questions and answers by any means," according to the ministry's official statement released on Monday.

Penalties apply whether the violation occurs before or during the exams, as long as the aim is "cheating and undermining the social order of examinations in or outside exam rooms".

Additionally, students who commit any violation mentioned in the law will be barred from all exams.

Previously, students were punished by only being banned from the exams in which they were caught cheating or attempting to cheat. 

The new law will only affect cases that have occurred after President Sisi ratified the amendments on 15 June.

People are not happy about the amendments, deeming them too "cruel"

In the statement, the ministry said that it seeks to enforce control of the examination process across the country's schools and dissuade students from committing any violation. 

Over the past couple of years, Egypt has witnessed several cases of exam questions or answers being leaked and shared online.

Last year, several thanaweya amma exams were leaked online, forcing the ministry to cancel or postpone many exams and arrest some administrators of Facebook pages sharing the leaks.