Mayanglambam Meghachandra Singh
Lecturer, Mathematics, International School of Resources (ISOR), Canchipur
(Founder member, KKEF)

Education is a systematic process of imparting knowledge from a well-qualified person called educator to a learner. In this process, the learner acquires knowledge, skills and attitudes from the educators. The knowledge thus received by the learner through education is the most powerful tool to be used in his/her journey of life. According to Wikipedia, Education is a conscious and deliberate effort to create an atmosphere of learning and the learning process so that learners are actively developing the potential for him/her to have the spiritual strength of religious, self-control, personality, intelligence, noble character, and the skills needed themselves and society.

So, how does cheating creeps in education? Why do the learners use unfair means in getting education for himself?

One of the most common features of today’s examinations is the involvement of students in cheating. When students fail to prepare themselves well before an examination, they resort to cheating. Cheating seems to delight the students but he ignores the fact that he is simply cheating his own conscience. He may go ahead and cheat but at some point, of time, it definitely haunts him. By cheating, the students may pass the examination but he will never learn what was actually taught and he will always remain behind his class in every way.

It is interesting to see how students cheat. They plan the method for cheating. They write notes on slips of paper or scribble something on their palms or thighs. They stick notes into their socks and under their shirts. Some carry their notes to the toilet and leave the slips of paper there. In the course of the examination, they go to the toilet and consult the sheets to locate the correct answers.

Now-a-day, adoption of unfair means in the examination has become a crucial problem in our system of education. This is one of the symptoms of degenerating condition prevalent in our society.

Using unfair means in examination is one of the major problems that affects our education system. To adopt unfair means in the examination is a very bad tendency. Those students who are irregular and inattentive to their studies usually adopt unfair means in the examination. It proves the inability and insincerity of a student. Their aim in education may be getting good marks and getting pass in the examination and then joining a white-collar job to feed their family. Due to the declination of the moral values of our society, some guardians or outsiders and even invigilators might help the examinees in copying in the examinations. It is for sure that education is the backbone of the society, of a nation. So, we must eradicate using of unfair means in examination to ensure real education of our citizens. We should identify the factors responsible for this problem. Some educational institutions do not have sufficient well-trained teachers. Many teachers do not take classes properly but are more concerned with private teaching or tuition or coaching institutions. And lessons are not taught to the students according to their aptitude and more stress is given on theoretical knowledge than on practical knowledge. Moreover, some students spend much time in un-academic activities including gossiping/ entertainment /mobile games. They don’t value the fruits of knowledge acquired through education. They and their guardians just value the mere paper called certificate which can be bought at some commercial/business minded educational institutes. They will pass public exams by hook or crook and then after some time, they or their parents will claim, our wards passed higher secondary examination, completed graduation, he or she must get some white-collar job All these are related in bringing unfair means in educational examination. It is an evil practice and it degrades the moral values of students. We should not support unfair means in the examination at any cost. The students who pass any examination by adopting unfair means in the examination do not get any good job and cannot serve the nation. A dishonest youth like him / her is the burden of the society.

The most worrying factor is that some tutors or teachers or academicians are directly or indirectly involving in such dirty deeds. What are their motives behind it? At least they must stop these nonsense things done. Nowadays, tutors are helping in making small slip notes called micro slips and distributing these so-called micros to the students. Questions can be easily acquired through social media applications, can be spread into hundreds in a minute. The question here arised is how they got these questions through social media apps just 40/45 minutes before the commencement of the examination. Who are responsible for these? I think the WhatsApp application is not responsible for such a nonsense act. Unfair means in the examination does not simply mean copying from books. It includes any sort of malpractice in or outside the hall. In many cases, the question paper is leaked out in advance. Many attempts to supply cut pages of books or handwriting notes inside the hall. Some examinees write their copies on the walls and benches beforehand. Helping our youth in doing such dirty things, threatening those strict invigilators, having meal with those dirty minded invigilators, will worsen these problems. We have to stop these things immediately. We have to purify the minds of our dear child. It is our utmost duty.

The causes of adopting unfair means: There are many causes of this crime. Of them, the main reasons are:

  • Moral bankruptcy in the department of administration.
  • Defective education system.
  • Carelessness of some teachers in performing their duties and responsibilities to the students.
  • Ill plan syllabus and non-availability of necessary books.
  • Student’s tendency of giving more importance to get an academic certificate that to acquire knowledge.
  • The indifference of some guardians to their children.
  • Family conflicts.
  • Wasting of their valuable precious times of study by gossiping/texting friends/playing mobile games etc.

Because of all these problems, the students get discouraged in their studies and ultimately choose the way to adopt unfair means in the examination.

Remedies: In order to solve these problems, a combined, united effort of all classes of people is required. All of us should come forward to take necessary measures and actions in keeping up a wholesome atmosphere in the field of education. Awareness programmes and career counselling programmes must be done regularly. The teachers should be sincere in carrying out their class duty. The guardians should be more conscious of their children’s studies. The students should be made aware of the bad effects of adopting unfair means. The students must be taught that education is not about a white-collar job, it is a quality itself, it is for acquiring knowledge. Above all, the prevailing education system should be improved. Recently the authorities have taken some effective measures to prevent unfair means in the examination. The whole system of examination has changed. The measurement of punishment against the offenders has also been increased. The good effects of the preventive measures are that the consciousness of the authorities, teachers, students, and guardians has been increased.

Conclusion: In short, it can be said that the adoption of unfair means in the examination is a great offence. It negates not only the noble aim of education but also the dignity of the nation. Today’s students are the instructors or pillars of tomorrow’s nation. So, to serve and conduct the nation effectively, the students must be well educated and competent. But without giving up the tendency of adopting unfair means, they will totally be failed in the task. The teachers, the students, the guardians, all sections of the society should come forward to stop unfair means in the examination.