The writer of the passage is of the opinion that the problem of cheating was solved to a certain extent ……….

Cheating in exams is one of the most significant problems in Malaysian universities. It is hardly surprising that an exam session is monitored by at least three proctors so as to guarantee that no one is cheating. Yet, a recent procedure applied in some polytechnic colleges seems to reduce the notorious practice. In these institutions, students are not allowed to enter the hall with personal belongings other than a pen. The practice forces the students to leave their personal items outside the hall, forming a small hill of backpacks In front of the doors. While the cases of cheating diminished considerably in the few weeks after the practice, this now seems to be the reason of another unprecedented annoyance—this time on the students' part; theft. The unattended hill has a specific charm for the petty thief seeking valuables such as cellular phones and CD players.