Australia Proposes Bill to Fight Academic Dishonesty

Category: Education/Family

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. step up / stɛp ʌp / (phrasal) – to increase or intensify something
    Example:

    If we want to win, we need to step up our efforts and practice harder.


  2. assure / əˈʃʊər / (v) – to make someone feel less worried about something
    Example:

    She felt more at ease about the presentation after her boss assured her that he will help.


  3. prominent / ˈprɒm ə nənt / (adj) – popular or well-known
    Example:

    The Beatles is one of the most prominent musicians during the 1960s.


  4. die down / daɪ daʊn / (phrasal) – to decrease in intensity or effect
    Example:

    It took a few hours before the rain died down.


  5. sophisticated / səˈfɪs tɪˌkeɪ tɪd / (adj) – describing something that is highly developed and not simple
    Example:

    Newer gadgets have more sophisticated functions than older ones.


Article

Read the text below.

Australia proposed a bill to step up its fight against contract cheating or the act in which students pay someone to do their schoolwork, such as essays and online tests.


Under the bill, those who offer or promote academic cheating services can be imprisoned for two years and pay fines of up to A$210,000 (more than US$140,000).


Upon the proposed law’s release to the public, some people raised concerns that it might punish students and their friends or family who help them with schoolwork. The government addressed this fear by assuring the public that the bill targets only paid cheating services.


The growing popularity of contract cheating was first exposed in 2014 by two Australian media companies. At that time, the most prominent contract cheating provider among students was MyMaster. Since then, the country started to strengthen efforts to discourage commercial cheating. However, instead of dying down, problems with contract cheating have persisted as service providers continue to increase and become more organized and sophisticated.


Education minister Dan Tehan said that such services are taking advantage of students’ weaknesses and damaging the reputation of Australian education. Cheating services have gone after international students because some of them have difficulties with English.


Once the bill is approved by the parliament, Australia’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency will be commissioned to investigate suspected contract cheating services. The agency said that it supports the government’s proposed bill and is already planning to collaborate with international bodies to eradicate the problem.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you think the punishment imposed by the bill against contract cheating providers is enough? Why or why not?
• Do you think students should also be punished for using contract cheating services? Why or why not?

Discussion B

• Why do you think some students cheat? Explain.
• What can be done to discourage students from cheating? Discuss.