Unfair means: Widespread cheating as Intermediate exams begin in upper Sindh

235 cases of cheating reported on the first day of the exams alone

SUKKUR: Despite precautions taken by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Sukkur, and district administrations, the annual Higher Secondary School Certificate I and II exams began amid rampant cheating across upper Sindh on Tuesday.

The exams started with the Islamiat paper at various centres established by BISE, Sukkur, in four districts of upper Sindh, namely Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki and Naushero Feroz. A visit to some of these centres revealed numerous people standing outside to provide cheating material to candidates with the help of the police and the centre staff.

"When the teachers seldom enter the classrooms throughout the year, how can students solve the exams without cheating?" asked an official, who did not disclose his identity. "In rare cases when they are ready to teach, the children are reluctant to study."



BISE, Sukkur, examinations controller Abdul Sami Soomro informed The Express Tribune that a total of 113 centres had been set up in the four districts, out of which 26 were for female candidates and 87 for male candidates. He added that 23 vigilance teams had also been formed to pay surprise visits to exam centres to catch cheaters.

He also revealed that 235 cases of cheating were reported on Tuesday alone — 89 from Naushero Feroz, 68 from Sukkur, 61 from Khairpur and 17 from Ghotki — as well as two cases of impersonation.

"We cannot remain in the exam centres all the time," said BISE, Sukkur, chairperson Syed Ghulam Mujtaba Shah, confirming the cases of cheating. "When we are there, nobody dares to cheat but the use of unfair means starts as soon as we leave the centre." He added that if charges of cheating were proved against a student, their exam was cancelled and they might be barred from attempting the exams for a maximum of two years, while in the case of impersonation, there was a minimum ban of three years.

Officials at one of the centres told The Express Tribune that BISE had issued directives forbidding the entry of media personnel. Shah denied that there was any such ban.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2015.