Algeria Introduces Tougher Penal Sanctions Against Exam Fraud: Zero Tolerance Policy for BEM and BAC Cheating

✍️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Justice Ministry Expands Legal Framework and Raises Penalties to Protect the Integrity of National Exams and Competitive Tests

Algiers, Algeria | May 28th, 2025 — In a decisive move to preserve the sanctity and credibility of Algeria’s national education system, the Ministry of Justice has enacted a series of new and severe penal sanctions targeting cheating and fraud during the BEM (Middle School Certificate) and BAC (Baccalaureate) exams.

In a statement issued during a national awareness campaign launched on the same day, the Ministry emphasized the critical need to sensitize both students and parents to the legal and moral consequences of fraud. This campaign aims to serve as a preventative mechanism while reinforcing the judiciary’s readiness to prosecute violations with the full force of the law.

Deputy Attorney General at the Algiers Court, Mr. Amine Larbi Rabah, outlined the legal enhancements made through an amendment to Law No. 20/06 of the Penal Code, which now introduces sweeping changes regarding exam and competition-related offenses.

The first key revision expands the law’s scope to all national examinations and competitive assessments, regardless of academic level or sector. This includes not only end-of-cycle school exams—such as the primary, middle, and secondary school evaluations—but also professional certifications, vocational training contests, and national recruitment exams across sectors.

The second major amendment broadens the list of individuals subject to criminal liability. The revised legislation now criminalizes any direct or indirect involvement in cheating schemes or attempts to compromise the credibility and dignity of official examinations. This includes not only candidates but also organizers, supervisors, accomplices, and proxy test-takers. Anyone caught attempting to sit for an exam on behalf of another candidate now faces the same penalty as the primary offender—one to three years in prison, in addition to financial fines stipulated by the same legal provision.

Moreover, punishments have been significantly escalated in cases involving organized fraud networks or the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) such as smartphones, messaging apps, and email. Those found guilty face the closure of the implicated premises, the permanent suspension of electronic accounts (emails, social media platforms) used in the fraud, and a multi-year ban from taking national exams, ranging from four to five years depending on the severity of the offense.

These measures also target exam supervisors and organizers, who will now be held legally accountable should they be found complicit in any form of fraud or leakage. If the infraction is proven to have occurred within the context of an organized group, the penalties will be considerably heavier.

The Ministry of Justice has reaffirmed that no leniency will be granted, and that the legal arsenal in place will be enforced rigorously to safeguard the transparency, fairness, and credibility of Algeria’s educational and professional certification systems. In doing so, the government seeks to protect meritocracy, deter misconduct, and restore public confidence in one of the nation’s most essential institutions.

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