NSW HSC exams threats: Kiama High School evacuated
Police Minister David Elliott has described people behind email threats which have disrupted HSC exams today and yesterday as “demented”, saying they have the country’s largest cybercrime force to contend with.
NSW
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Police Minister David Elliott has described the people behind the threats made to schools hosting HSC exams today and yesterday as “demented” and that their “joke is a crime”.
“It certainly takes a small and demented mind to interrupt HSC students after a traumatic year during a pandemic when the nation is at a heightened state of alert in terrorism,” he said.
“I’m horrified an individual or individuals would find themselves so bored that they would want to disrupt this very important part in these children’s lives.”
More than 10 regional schools including Kiama High School were evacuated during today’s HSC biology exam.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said a police operation had been carried out today, with local police officers were called in alongside specialist officers to conduct extensive searches at each of the affected schools, but nothing unusual had been found.
A NSW Education Standards Authority spokesperson confirmed this morning’s biology exam had been interrupted due to threatening emails being received by schools. They said this afternoon’s exams would continue as scheduled, unless students were advised otherwise by their school.
Today’s HSC exam disruption comes after legal studies exams at 20 schools were evacuated on Tuesday because email threats against were schools were received.
On Wednesday afternoon Mr Elliott sent a strong warning to those responsible, saying they will be dealing with the “largest cybercrime force in the country”.
“You are now liable for a 10-year incarceration in a NSW prison. We aren’t going to muck around with this, and I’ve already had a briefing from cybercrime squad and have every confidence they’re going to manage the issue in an appropriate way,” he said.
“For the offenders I can tell you this, we won’t allow you to interrupt the future of these thousands of young people.
“They have gone through too much in a very difficult year for you to interrupt their future.”
He added that the police will not allow this “bastard behaviour” to affect one of the most important exams students will sit for, and encouraged students to “dust themselves off” and continue to show resilience.
“I cannot wait to see a conviction, I cannot wait to see an arrest and I cannot wait to NSW police prosecute this individual or individuals before the courts.”
Secretary of NSW Department of Education Mark Scott said about 300 students were disrupted during their HSC biology exam on Wednesday, in addition to 500 students affected on Tuesday.
“The schools affected were primarily in the south coast … it is very disappointing for our students to have any distractions like this particularly after the year they’ve gone through,” he said.
Schools impacted so far are Moss Vale High School, Bomaderry High School, Kiama High School, Bowral High School, Yass High School, Vincentia High School, Narrabri High School, Yanco High School, Merriwa Central School and Nowra High School.
Moss Vale High School’s principal confirmed HSC exams had been interrupted, saying: “The school is dealing separately with those students, in consultation with the NSW Education Standards Authority, which runs the exams.”
Most students were able to finish their exams but affected schools will submit group applications on behalf of their students asking for special consideration for illness and misadventure.
The NESA spokesperson said that when an exam was interrupted for 40 minutes or more — or where there was a delay of 60 minutes or more in starting the exam — students were dismissed and did not need to re-sit the exams.
In these situations, schools submit “illness or misadventures” group applications to NESA on behalf of the affected students.
The spokesperson said NESA had “a rigorous and longstanding processed to make sure affected students get a fair result”.
Detectives from the Cybercrime Squad have established Strike Force Rolum to investigate the circumstances and origins of the emails.
Cybercrime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Matt Craft has urged any student or family with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
WEDNESDAY’S HSC TIMETABLE
Biology
9.25am – 12.30pm
Agriculture
1.55pm – 5.00pm
Classical Greek Continuers
1.55pm – 5.00pm
Japanese Beginners
2.00pm – 4.40pm
Modern Greek Beginners
2.00pm – 4.40pm
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