Unfair means

Our capacity as a nation to try and adopt foul means to get out of tight spots is quite phenomenal. The same level of energy directed towards dealing with the matter at hand through a more ethical course of action, would undoubtedly solve quite a lot. According to a report about practices used by candidates for the BA/BSc examination, a new novel ‘strategy’ is increasingly being used by candidates to get better marks. The report said that many students are now writing down verses from the Holy Quran or pieces of religious poetry on their answer sheets, in an attempt to gain the sympathy of those marking the papers. Others use means that are even less subtle, scribbling down stories about sick parents, tales of their own poverty or – in the case of girls – their phone numbers. According to the University of Punjab (PU), examiners are instructed to ignore such efforts to gain marks, and most choose to do so giving out grades solely on the basis of merit. Unfortunately, our mainstream system of education is not exactly based on that straightforward principle. In many instances, teachers reward students not so much for content as for presentation. In fact, the whole system of assessment lacks transparency and seems to reward rote learning more than anything else.

Other means adopted by students in Pakistan for getting higher marks are more well-established. They include bribery or attempts to coerce those marking papers. A number of respected academics now refuse to undertake this task because they are concerned about threats or the exertion of pressure. Unsurprisingly, it appears those ill-prepared for exams are most likely to make efforts such as these. It is unfortunate that a culture has been created that encourages people to shy away from hard work and resort to other means. Worst of all is the fact that this trend seems to be growing. It is hard to imagine students anywhere else in the world resorting to religious messages as a means to pass exams — given that the ends are contradicting the very spirit as embodied by the means. The PU says it has already warned candidates against such practices. Perhaps it needs to go one step further by threatening to disqualify them altogether if material of this nature appears on exam scripts.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2010.