Mass copying, govt's helplessness sully Bihar's image

Reena Kumari (name changed), 17, was one of the 576 students arrested in Bihar for using unfair means during the ongoing matriculation examination.

Reena and lakhs of other students were oblivious of the fact that they had sullied the image of Bihar, assiduously built over the years since Nitish Kumar came to power.

The image was tarnished further when Bihar Education Minister P K Sahi, a confidant of Nitish, expressed helplessness in checking copying in examinations: “Should I order firing on those involved in copying or those abetting cheating at the examination halls?”

The Patna High Court took umbrage at the statement and observed a day later that if the education minister can’t check “mass copying” in examinations, he should not continue in the post.

However, the damage had been done by then.

Why is it that these students were copying in such a massive scale? When Deccan Herald talked to several parents, including those arrested for passing chits, but later let off after paying fine, it appeared to be a continuation of an innate social problem. Besides, the monetary benefits accruing from the welfare schemes announced by the government also played its role.

“The government, as part of its move to promote girls’ education, has announced that girls who secure first division in matriculation examinations will be entitled to a cash reward of Rs 10,000. Secondly, if my daughter completes her matriculation with good marks, it will be easier to find a suitable groom for her,” admitted a parent who was apprehended in Vaishali for helping his daughter use unfair means.

The third prime reason for such mass copying seems to be the complete absence of quality teaching in secondary schools. “There is huge backlog in secondary teachers’ appointment. Those who get the job are highly incompetent. Under such circumstances, where neither are classes held nor is quality teaching imparted, what options do these students have?” argued Shankar, a Patna University teacher.  

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked the Chief Secretary to launch a crackdown on examinees and their parents using unfair means in the examination. As a result, over 900 people, including examinees and their kin, were arrested throughout the state.

The chief minister was livid over the incident, which brought disrepute to the state.

“Reports of copying have given Bihar a bad name. One can get a certificate by using unfair means in examinations, but they will not gain knowledge, as cheating will not help at later stages (of life),” said an angry Nitish.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Upendra Kushwaha said the Centre would seek a report from the Bihar government over rampant use of unfair means in examinations, and issue guidelines to the state on how they should be conducted.

In the meantime, examinations at some centres in Vaishali were cancelled after it was found that the maximum number of arrests took place in this district, followed by Ara and Saharsa.