|
Exams and cheating
June 19(The News): The continued widespread practice of cheating in local HSC examinations is
extremely unfortunate and the introduction of new modes of cheating is an
alarming indication that this practice, far from being curtailed, is actually
growing. Aside from the immediate moral and ethical connotations of cheating,
which are unmistakably plenty and profound, the long-term repercussions are even
more disturbing. If the nation's children are allowed to cheat their way through
school, this practice and mindset carries over into their adult and professional
lives. Moreover, students cheating their way through their studies is also
extremely unfair to those who work hard all year long to succeed in their
examinations. Not only are they 'outshined,' but, later on, the placing of
deserving students in institutions of higher education or in employment posts is
jeopardised by 'competition' from obviously less-educated and unscrupulous
students.
Even more disturbing than all of this is the fact that
authorities, if not in connivance, are at least turning a blind eye to all of
this. How else can one explain the presence of 'agents' around examination
centres, the 'exchanging' of papers, the presence of 'special' rooms, et all?
Such obvious factors cannot possibly escape the attention of the authorities
concerned. The police around the exam centres obviously take some sort of cut
from the agents' 'fees' to allow them to prowl the area. Lastly it is obvious
that there is some sort of financial support from parents. How else can a
student afford to pay over Rs100,000 for a 'special' room? If this is indeed the
case, then there is little hope for us as a country and a society. Needless to
say, immediate attention and action is needed by the highest authorities in this
regard.
|
