Taking the initiative: As ‘copy culture’ grows, some students say no to cheating

Students hope that those of other schools follow suit.

SUKKUR: A large number of people can be seen outside examination centres for the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) part-I and part-II exams, providing ‘support’ to candidates.

The SSC part-I and part-II annual examinations started on April 2 and like every year, a large number of people can be seen helping the candidates cheat, with the approval of the police, the teachers and other school staff.

The Sukkur deputy commissioner has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, according to which no one is allowed within 100 metres of examination centres. However, dozens of people can be seen hanging about the centres, despite the ban.

These ‘helpers’ send cheating material to candidates through the policemen deployed at the centres or through the school’s teaching and non-teaching staff. The cost of the ‘service’ often varies between Rs50 and Rs100, a cost that parents and students are more than willing to bear.

Due to the increase in cheating, the Sukkur Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has constituted 26 vigilance teams to monitor the process at 200 centres. However, it is not possible for the vigilance teams to visit all examination centres, the controller of examinations, Abul Sami Soomro, told The Express Tribune. “We are taking all possible measures to curb cheating,” he added.

Self-control

Despite the prevalence of cheating at examination centres, Public School Sukkur is devoid of policemen and loiterers.

The Public School has seen radical changes since the Sukkur Institute of Business Administration (IBA) took over. A shortage of teachers has been addressed and special importance has been placed on efficient transfer of knowledge to students.

The students of the school have taken it upon themselves to end the ‘copy culture’ and are committed to proving their claim by saying no to cheating. Today was the first exam for class 10 - of English - and the candidates sat in a secluded auditorium and lived up to their claims.

“Till last year, most of us used to copy and cheat but our conscience always haunted us after it,” said a Public School student, Daniyal, while talking to The Express Tribnue. “I feel proud of myself for saying no to cheating and hope that other schools also follow our example.”

For other students of the school, the move does not represent a change. “I have never cheated in exams,” said Mahnoor, another student at the school. “I think teachers and parents are just as responsible for those who cheat as the students themselves since they need to nip the issue in the bud but most often fail to do so.”

Mahnoor’s words were echoed by her schoolmate Areesha. “The environment at home and at school are the main contributing factor towards cheating,” she said. “What is the point of education and getting degrees if you can’t even write a job application? I advise my fellow students to think about their future and to stop cheating.”

A proud school

Sukkur IBA director Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui told The Express Tribune that the school was adopted by the university in 2013. “We offered extra classes after school hours for students so that we could complete the syllabus,” said Siddiqui while discussing their efforts to ensure that the students do not need to cheat. “Our commitment motivated students to pointedly say no to cheating and I hope that other institutes follow suit.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2014.