AI Surveillance System Sparks Admissions Crisis at Prestigious Mexican University
Qwenews.com – Thousands of prospective students face uncertainty after the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) invalidated approximately 3,000 examinations following revelations of potential widespread cheating. The institution has temporarily halted enrollment while investigating whether candidates utilized artificial intelligence applications or secured examination questions beforehand.
Among those caught in the administrative limbo is Daniel Fernando García Velázquez, who finally achieved his dream of admission after four attempts at the prestigious institution’s entrance examination. During his initial three tries, García Velázquez was required to journey 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Veracruz to Mexico City for the in-person test. When he attempted the exam once more in June, he made the same trip despite UNAM offering the examination online for the first time in its history.
García Velázquez earned a score of 94 out of 120 points, a result that should have secured his place in the Communication and Journalism program at UNAM’s Aragón School of Higher Studies. Nevertheless, he remains unsure whether he can begin classes when the new academic term commences on August 10.
Unprecedented Perfect Scores Raise Questions
UNAM officials initially announced without elaboration that roughly two percent of all examinations had been nullified due to “behaviors contrary to what is established in the Call for Applications and in University Legislation.” Subsequent analysis revealed an extraordinary concentration of perfect scores—numbers that have reportedly tripled compared to previous years.
It’s really shocking because of the number of students who got a perfect score on the exam, something we hadn’t seen before; the number has tripled compared to previous years, said Alma Maldonado, a member of the technical commission appointed to investigate the situation, in an interview with CNN’s Perspectivas program.
More than 150,000 candidates nationwide participated in the examination, which was administered across weekends during May and June. These applicants competed for merely 21,962 available positions. While only a fraction of candidates have been directly affected by the invalidations, every single student—including those like García Velázquez who are not suspected of misconduct—awaits the conclusion of UNAM’s comprehensive investigation.
Political Attention and Historical Significance
The controversy has escalated to the highest levels of government. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who herself graduated with a physics degree from UNAM, recommended on Tuesday that the university seek assistance from the attorney general to resolve the situation thoroughly.
UNAM’s legacy extends back to the sixteenth century when the government founded what was originally known as the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico. Following the granting of autonomy in 1929, the institution evolved into an emblem of modern Mexico, serving as a hub for political and social activism while providing crucial social mobility opportunities in a nation where private higher education remains financially out of reach for numerous families.
Competition for university placement remains intense. Each year, over 100,000 individuals submit applications, with rejection rates typically falling between 80 and 90 percent. The undergraduate examination consists of 120 questions, and passing thresholds vary according to program popularity, with Medicine consistently requiring the highest scores.
UNAM administrators had anticipated that transitioning to an online format would enhance accessibility and fairness for candidates residing throughout Mexico, eliminating the necessity for lengthy journeys to testing centers concentrated primarily in Mexico City and nearby regions. The university implemented an artificial intelligence-based monitoring system designed to capture and document applicant behavior and actions, supplementing traditional human supervision.
Students who believe they have been treated unjustly are now directing their frustration toward the very AI surveillance technology intended to guarantee examination integrity. The resulting public outcry continues to grow as UNAM works to clarify which candidates were genuinely involved in cheating and which were unfairly penalized by the automated system.
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