Some secondary schools have been attempting to prevent poorly-performing students from taking their final exams in an attempt to raise the school’s overall pass rate artificially, according to the National Action Committee for Pupils, LAKS.

The school pupils’ organisation says it has received a number of complaints. At least two schools have been pressuring pupils to sign contracts in which they agree to withdraw from national examinations if their marks are below par, LAKS claims.

This contravenes the official exam regulations, which only allow for pupils to be barred from taking exams due to irregularities such as fraud or a serious breach of school rules.

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