Cheating in examinations is not confined to Bihar, but in a phenomenon probably seen only in Bihar, family members of students taking the board examinations have been seen deftly climbing buildings in broad daylight to pass the chits so that their wards can cheat. What is shocking is that such incidents take place on a large scale and in an open manner despite inspection authorities and police personnel being posted outside the exam venues.
The Patna High Court is right in rebuking the state’s minister of education P K Shahi for his remarks that the government cannot stop cheating in exams. But the minister has a point when he says that it is also the responsibility of the society to eradicate the malpractice. More than the government, the parents and guardians of students should come forward to end mass copying. However, a major reason behind this practice is that the problems of an unsatisfactory education system have been compounded by the slow pace of economic growth. It is an economy where jobs are not easily available which makes hundreds of students continue their studies even when they are not really interested in learning. As a result, they pay no attention to the class lectures—if they at all attend the classes—nor study at home and have no option, therefore, but to cheat when the exams are held.
The system of vocational training which was introduced to divert those students who are not interested in studies into gainful employment does not seem to have served its purpose. The 10 plus 2 system was meant to persuade the less bright among students to leave the campuses so that only those seriously interested in studies would go in for higher education. But, the failures on these counts have meant the schools and colleges no longer attract teachers of the kind who can hold the attention of their pupils. Given the poor calibre of a large number of teachers and students, cheating is unavoidable.
