Parents in Bihar climb buildings to help students cheat in board exams

Some parents scaled as high has four levels to pass on chits to help students cheat

Some parents are willing to do anything to help their children succeed at school - even climbing a multi-storeyed building to help the students cheat during board exams.

Video emerged on Thursday of parents in the Indian state of Bihar scaling a building to pass chits to the students inside and help them cheat.

Instead of taking action, Bihar's state education minister PK Shahi tried to shrug off the government's responsibility by saying, "the government is helpless to stop the dishonest practices unless parents and students cooperate for the same".

Tall claims of the Bihar School Examination Board of conducting free, fair and peaceful examinations fell flat as students were seen openly cheating at various centres.

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Shocking visuals of parents and relatives scaling up to exam centres, located at times three, even four stories high to pass on chits to their chidlren.



A man tries to send an answer chit to a candidate inside an examination hall with the help of a stick. PHOTO COURTESY: HINDUSTAN TIMES

At several centres, police personnel failed to stop them while at some they are seen even helping in the cheating.

When asked about the unfair practices being used in the examination on the sidelines of Bihar legislative council, Shahi questioned the reporters in return.

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"Over 1.4 million students are taking the examination. You tell us what can the government do to stop cheating if parents and relatives are not ready to cooperate? Should the government give orders to shoot them?"

The education minister went on record to say the state government alone cannot stop the unfair practices unless the students and parents don't step up.

"The orders to conduct free and fair exams have been given to district magistrates and police officials," he said but when it was pointed out that even cops were seen helping students, Shahi said, "It may be that even their kin are taking the exams so they may be helping."

The minister expressed helplessness in taking action even in the remaining exams.

It is worth mentioning that over 1.4 million students are appearing at the BSEB matriculation examination being held at a little over 1,200 centres in the state. About 1,000 students have been expelled from the examination in the first two days, board officials said.

The examination will conclude on March 24.

The article originally appeared in The Times of India