Bandipora, Budgam go Bihar way in mass copying
Invigilation officials act as mute spectators to blatant cheating during class X examsÂ
Visuals of mass copying in Bihar had invited widespread ridicule recently. In a striking resemblance, scenes of boys passing on answer chits to their friends and relatives, appearing for matriculation (private) examination, were witnessed in Bandipora and Budgam on Tuesday.At examination centre number 412 housed inside Government Middle School Nowpora (town) of Bandipora, friends and parents of examinees scaled 8 feet wall to “help” them while the invigilation officials acted as mute spectators.
Kashmir is not unfamiliar with the practice of mass copying with Board of School Education (BOSE) coming under severe criticism on several occasions in the past.
The boys came to know about the questions featuring in the paper and accordingly prepared chits before passing them on to their friends and relatives through the windows.
Meanwhile, the examiners and teachers present in the school acted as mute spectators to the mass copying.
“Teachers are equally responsible for the copying crime. They should have informed police if they failed to stop it,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a shopkeeper near the centre who was witness to the act.
At Nadim Memorial Higher Secondary School, named after poet and scholar Abdul Ahad Nadim, the situation was even worse and resembled the scenes of mass copying at a school in Hajipur, Bihar in March.
Concerned and enraged by the situation, some local elders approached police and district authorities and complained about mass copying.
The local residents staged protest and demanded stern action against the teachers who allowed the copying.
“It was reminiscent of 1990’s when mass copying was a common practice and government had to even seek Army’s intervention. Are we heading to that situation again?” questioned Dr Ghulam Mohi-ud-din, a resident.
“Such things will be witnessed in our society more often if we allow students to pass the examinations by mass copying,” he added.
Meanwhile, police swung into action and arrested two youths from the examination centres. Superintendent of Police Bandipora, Mohammad Shabir Chowdhary said they raided several centres in the town and arrested some boys. He, however, added that by the time they reached the centers exams were over. He said they will keep strict vigil in the centres to stop unethical practices.
Secretary Board of School Education (BOSE) Veena Pandita said she received reports of mass copying from Bandipora and Beerwah.
Pandita said she sent Joint Secretary BOSE to Budgam and Assistant Secretary to Bandipora to assess the situation.
On the directions of Minister for Education, Naeem Akhter, Pandita said she is writing to all Deputy Commissioners asking them to ensure peaceful atmosphere around the centres and help them in conducting free and fair examinations.
BOSE Secretary said she shifted the staff from Budgam exam centre and changed the centre of some students. “We are also submitting a report about the conduct of examination staff to Directorate of School Education for further action,” Pandita said.
