Hong Kong education minister ‘very concerned’ after new roll-call app crashes twice during university entrance exams
- Authorities have suspended use of new i-Invigilation app after it crashed twice in two days during Diploma of Secondary Education exams due to ‘server jam’
- Education minister Christine Choi reassures pupils their exams will not be affected, with authorities opting for manual roll-calls amid investigation into failure
The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority suspended the use of the i-Invigilation app, in its first official year of operation, after a “server jam” caused it to crash during the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) Chinese and English papers on Thursday and Friday.
“We are very concerned about this disruption, as it affects a very important examination for our students,” Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on a radio show on Saturday.
“The authority has said it will ensure all exams will progress in a stable and smooth manner. I know it is following up on the incident very seriously and has had a lot of meetings that lasted several hours before making the decision to suspend the use of the app.”
Choi said she had not heard any reports of the crash preventing students from sitting the exams.
“I also want to tell students that no matter what method or mobile application is used when you conduct your roll-call, it will not affect your exam, so there is no need to feel nervous – relax a little,” she said. “There is nothing wrong with a manual roll-call.”