Patna, Mar 19: Look at the photographs carefully before reading this report. That’s not a mock drill but Bihari model examination! Yes, cheating in exams is fairly common in the North Indian state, but new images have emerged which show just how large-scale and blatant the practice is.
Many students smuggled in textbooks and notes into the examination centres despite tight security - and parents and friends were photographed scaling the walls of test centres to pass on answers to students during the current secondary school examinations.
The examinations, held by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), began on Tuesday and are scheduled to go on until 24 March. Officials say more than 1.4 million students are taking the tests.
What's worse, instead of taking strict action, the state education minister PK Shahi tried to shrug off govt's responsibility by saying, "the government is helpless to stop the dishonest practices unless parents and students cooperate for the same"
Tall claims of the Bihar School Examination Board of conducting free, fair and peaceful examinations fell flat as students were seen openly cheating at various centres. At several centres, police personnel failed to stop them while at some they are seen even helping in the cheating.
Some photos even show policemen posted outside the centres accepting bribes to look the other way, our correspondent adds.
When asked about the unfair practices being used in the examination on the side-lines of Bihar legislative council, Shahi questioned the reporters in return, "Over 14 lakh students are taking the examination. You tell us what can the government do to stop cheating id parents and relatives are not ready to cooperate? Should the government give orders to shoot them?"
The education minister went on record to say the state government alone cannot stop the unfair practices is students and parents don't help. "The orders for conduct of free and fair exams have been given to district magistrates and police officials," he said but when it was pointed out that even cops were seen helping students, Shahi said, "It may be that even their kin are taking the exams so they may be helping." The minister expressed helplessness in taking action even in the remaining exams.
It may be mentioned that over 14.26 lakh students are appearing at the BSEB matriculation examination being held at a little over 1,200 centres in the state. About 1,000 examinees have been expelled from the examination in the first two days, board officials said.
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