Illegal assistance: A pocket full of answers
Mini-guides offer students shortcut to academic success.
The new ‘pocket-sized’ guides – costing a mere Rs30 to Rs50 – are readily available in various book shops. DESIGN: SAMRA AAMIR
PESHAWAR:
Ever been stuck during an exam and wished you had a manual to guide you through? Your wish might just have come true.
The new ‘pocket-sized’ guides – costing a mere Rs30 to Rs50 – are readily available in various book shops ahead of the FA/FSc exams scheduled for Wednesday (tomorrow). The handy booklets cover almost all subjects and come in a wide range of variety.
Saddar, University Road, Khyber Bazaar, Coffee Shop Market in University of Peshawar and Forest College Bazaar are just some of the places where you can easily pick up these ‘magic’ books on your way home on an exam night.
“I do study for my exams, but I bring pocket [guides] for ‘emergencies’,” said Sohail Ahmad, a student concerned about doing well in his exam. He maintained sometimes there are questions in the paper, answers to which he has not learned properly. “I then use the ‘pocket’,” he added, lightening up at the prospect of a peaceful night before the exam.
Peace Education and Development Foundation Programme Manager Tariq Hayat Khan, however, does not agree with the notion of pocket guides making life easy for students. “These books have kept students away from studying for exams; it promotes cheating.”
He said students go around exercising the “corrupt practice” without any fear. “Students at master’s level also cheat,” he added.
Suggesting stern action against publications that release these manuals, Khan, however, admitted the only way to eradicate the practice was to remove the concept of cheating from society.
Shopkeepers, on the other hand, are happy with their sales. “We brought 500 books; almost all are sold!” said a visibly pleased Shahzad Ali, a shopkeeper in Forest College Bazaar.
Affordability seems not to be an issue when the need is so dire. The shopkeeper said some students buy two or three ‘pockets’ so if one is confiscated, they can bring out reinforcements. Defending his young customers, Ali added teachers and parents are equally responsible for an increase in the trend of cheating.
The practice, however, does not always go unpunished.
During intermediate examinations last year, around 584 students were caught cheating, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Peshawar Chairman Muhammad Shafi told The Express Tribune.
“Our teams raid these examination centres and charge students caught using unfair means to pass their exams,” he said, adding a fine is usually imposed on those found guilty.
“In the previous matriculation exams, I cancelled duties of the teachers who were found assisting the students in cheating,” said Shafi. He appealed to all parents to keep a check on their children and oppose such practices.
Six examination centres have been set up across the province in Peshawar, Charsadda, Khyber Agency, Mohmand Agency, FR Peshawar and Chitral for the 43,378 students registered to appear for their intermediate part-I exams and 45,913 students for intermediate part-II.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2013.
Ever been stuck during an exam and wished you had a manual to guide you through? Your wish might just have come true.
The new ‘pocket-sized’ guides – costing a mere Rs30 to Rs50 – are readily available in various book shops ahead of the FA/FSc exams scheduled for Wednesday (tomorrow). The handy booklets cover almost all subjects and come in a wide range of variety.
Saddar, University Road, Khyber Bazaar, Coffee Shop Market in University of Peshawar and Forest College Bazaar are just some of the places where you can easily pick up these ‘magic’ books on your way home on an exam night.
“I do study for my exams, but I bring pocket [guides] for ‘emergencies’,” said Sohail Ahmad, a student concerned about doing well in his exam. He maintained sometimes there are questions in the paper, answers to which he has not learned properly. “I then use the ‘pocket’,” he added, lightening up at the prospect of a peaceful night before the exam.
Peace Education and Development Foundation Programme Manager Tariq Hayat Khan, however, does not agree with the notion of pocket guides making life easy for students. “These books have kept students away from studying for exams; it promotes cheating.”
He said students go around exercising the “corrupt practice” without any fear. “Students at master’s level also cheat,” he added.
Suggesting stern action against publications that release these manuals, Khan, however, admitted the only way to eradicate the practice was to remove the concept of cheating from society.
Shopkeepers, on the other hand, are happy with their sales. “We brought 500 books; almost all are sold!” said a visibly pleased Shahzad Ali, a shopkeeper in Forest College Bazaar.
Affordability seems not to be an issue when the need is so dire. The shopkeeper said some students buy two or three ‘pockets’ so if one is confiscated, they can bring out reinforcements. Defending his young customers, Ali added teachers and parents are equally responsible for an increase in the trend of cheating.
The practice, however, does not always go unpunished.
During intermediate examinations last year, around 584 students were caught cheating, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Peshawar Chairman Muhammad Shafi told The Express Tribune.
“Our teams raid these examination centres and charge students caught using unfair means to pass their exams,” he said, adding a fine is usually imposed on those found guilty.
“In the previous matriculation exams, I cancelled duties of the teachers who were found assisting the students in cheating,” said Shafi. He appealed to all parents to keep a check on their children and oppose such practices.
Six examination centres have been set up across the province in Peshawar, Charsadda, Khyber Agency, Mohmand Agency, FR Peshawar and Chitral for the 43,378 students registered to appear for their intermediate part-I exams and 45,913 students for intermediate part-II.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2013.