Academic Honesty Policy

1. Introduction

Academic honesty is central to all levels of education. In Ziauddin Schools and Colleges, we prepare our students for life by inculcating the values of honesty and integrity. The policies and procedures in this document are informed by the Ziauddin Education System (ZES) Values, Vision and Mission.

2. Aim of the Policy

This policy provides direction for how our schools and colleges uphold academic honesty. In this way, all ZES students have an equal and fair opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they are acquiring.

3. Avoiding Academic Misconduct

3.1 What is Academic Misconduct?

Academic misconduct results in a student gaining an unfair advantage when work that has been submitted is being assessed. Examples of academic misconduct include:

  • Plagiarism – presenting ideas, words or work of another person without proper acknowledgment
  • Collusion – supporting the academic misconduct of another student (e.g. letting someone copy your work)
  • Duplication – presenting the same work for different assessments
  • Exam misconduct –
    • Taking material into an examination
    • Disrupting an examination
    • Talking to another student during an examination

3.2 Student Responsibilities

  1. Each student is responsible for the work submitted for assessment.
  2. The student must ensure that all work is authentic
  3. The ideas and words of others must be acknowledged (i.e. referencing)

3.3 Teacher Responsibilities

All ZES teachers are expected to:

  • Support and act on this policy
  • Provide students with advice regarding academic honesty
  • Provide guidance in research and study skills
  • Provide structure to assignments that developments students’ own ideas through problem-solving, comparison, conjecture, argument, evidence, analysis etc.
  • Mark class and homework assignments taking into account whether the work is the unique work of the student

The following are considered examples of academic dishonesty for which teachers should consider remedial action:

  • Using dishonest or deceptive means to obtain credit for work
  • Using notes, aids, or another student’s assistance to complete a test, assignment or project
  • Looking at another student’s answers during a test
  • Talking during a test
  • Plagiarising materials (e. presenting another person’s work as your own).

4. Dealing with Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty in Ziauddin Schools and Colleges is to be treated on a case-by-case basis.

Practical steps which are to be taken include:

  • Investigation of misconduct by the Principal
  • Parent(s) contacted by the teacher and/or Principal
  • Conference with the student and parent(s)
  • Additional instruction on the need for honesty in the presentation of written work
  • The following sanctions for academic dishonesty apply for formal assessments:
    • FIRST INFRACTION: Failing grade for the assessment
    • SECOND INFRACTION: Failing grade for the session
    • THIRD INFRACTION: Failing grade for the year and disciplinary letter
    • FOURTH INFRACTION: Dismissal from school/ college

If a student is suspected to have engaged in academic dishonesty and so breached the ZES standards, the matter should be shared with the Principal for investigation.

If the investigation provides evidence that the student has intended to cheat, collude or plagiarise, then sanctions should be applied as per the directive mentioned above.

If time permits before the assessment deadline for the work, for a first infringement ONLY, the student should be allowed one chance to re-submit another piece of work in its place.