Malpractice in common among students, especially during the examination period. Here are some ways that can help you deal with it effectively:
* Do not damage the child’s self esteem: Primary school students are too young to be reprimanded for their mistakes. They must only be told that success is worthwhile only when it is based on merit and honesty. Allow children to try their best in future and it will be its own reward.
* Adolescent students who cheat: Students who cheat during these years are those who are not prepared and are afraid of the consequences of getting lower grades. Serious action should be taken only if they are chronic cheaters. There are possibilities that the students have not understood the point of a question.
Teachers and parents who increase the pressure to succeed academically are to be blamed. Presently the culture of cheating across many educational institutions have increased, especially if one has access to technology.
* Rationalising one’s behaviour: Sometimes when cheating becomes easy, it becomes easy to rationalise one’s behaviour to cheat repeatedly. When students see some of their peers cheating and getting better grades than themselves, they are tempted into doing it themselves.
* Blame on teachers: If a teacher is unfair and uncaring and partial in her attitudes, and if her focus is only on grades, students cheat with a vengeance. It is necessary that competition and anxiety in the classroom should be reduced. It is not necessary to exhibit the grades of students publicly.
* Vigilant supervisors: Passive supervisors convey the message that they don’t care! It is a good practice to see that students do not bring anything into the examination hall other than their pens, pencils and other their hall tickets. Water can be supplied with water bottles in the examination halls. If a supervisor finds anyone cheating, proper evidence has to be collected rather than accusing someone without any reason.
* Role of parents: It is absolutely unnecessary to preach children about the wrongs of cheating. They inherently know that it is wrong and may narrate incidences that have happened. Conversations regarding this topic should be of curiosity and openness. Homes where academic pressure is not too much and their talks centre around social activities, athletics, hobbies and family matters become more important tend to take life easy and they are not pressurised to cheat. Homes where elders focus solely on grades and academics are the ones who are likely to indulge in cheating.
* Role of peers: Many students wonder if it is acceptable to report when they see their classmates cheat during an exam. Even when they know it is wrong, some of them think that it is better to just keep silent instead of getting into trouble. It is a very difficult situation to be in. Many of them do not raise their voice of accusation as they feel it would put them in trouble. There has been a suggestion by some educators that it is good to report the matter but one should make sure that he/she should be careful not to make it obvious.
Some anonymous letters regarding the cheating of some students do get reported. But what can be done? This is really a serious problem for the teachers and the students. Conscience is the best thing. Just let the conscience of the students tell them whether they are doing the right thing or not. How do we evoke this? This totally depends on how the children are being brought up by their parents and their surroundings.
