Dozens arrested in Algeria exam leak probe

Dozens including education officials have been arrested in Algeria on suspicion of leaking final exam papers that led to more than 300,000 students needing to resit the tests, police said on Tuesday.

Managers, teachers and even the heads of national exam centres were detained for their alleged role in the scandal.

The investigation is looking into leaks in 30 Algerian departments, or regions, according to the police unit leading the probe.

A police statement carried by the APS news agency said cybercrime investigators had managed to identify individuals who had "published (exam) material on social networks" as well as those who facilitated the leak.

Education minister Nouria Benghebrit broke down in tears in public last week when she was told of the leak of exams which high school students must pass before they can enrol in university.

Benghebrit said 300,000 students out of the 800,000 who sat the "baccalaureate" final exams last week would have to undergo new testing on June 19.

They would be tested again for the seven exams leaked online, she said.