Teachers that help students to cheat on their college admission exams should be held criminally accountable for their actions, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Monday.
"It is important that the real exam results reflect the student's real level of understanding," Medvedev said during a meeting with his deputies, according to the .
Last year, administrative proceedings were brought against more than 1,000 people and three regional education officials were fired amid widespread accusations of cheating on the Unified State Exams. Violations included the publication of test answers online, manipulation of results by teachers, and the use of mobile phones during exams.
"The vast majority of teachers we have are splendid, altruistic people — but, nonetheless, if someone is found to have been tampering" with exams, "then they must face administrative and criminal legislation," Medvedev said.
More than 700,000 students will sit the exam this year, with the first round of tests starting on April 21.
Video cameras will be installed in all test halls to monitor the children, while metal detectors will be set up in 80 percent of test centers, said Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets.
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