A NATIONAL daily in a report on Friday blamed government inaction as helping coaching centers to leak question papers nonstop. The fact is that the government remains indifferent to mushroom growth of coaching center which are then indulging in leaking questions of SSC, HSC and other public exams and questions of admission test into universities and medical colleges.
The leakage of question papers of this year’s medical admission test, reportedly made public by coaching center operatives has created the biggest embarrassment to the government but neither the government is putting the leakier on trial least it will establish the leakage nor it is rescinding the results as those who have passed out sitting in exams with leaked question will take to streets this time bringing similar embarrassment to the government. The inability of the government to protect public examinations and involvement of party men from within the government and outside is making the public exam system totally ineffective.
Coaching center operatives are using technology to aid students in cheating, thus creating repeatedly embarrassing situation for the government every time such leakages take place. They are using the opportunity to lure students to be sure of success in such examinations while making hefty illegal money out of the process.
Experts blamed expensive coaching facilities availed by well off families as destroying the level playing field for students from less privileged backgrounds as candidates from well off families can spend extra money to get admission to coaching centers and buy question papers during exams at high cost. Such practice is also depriving participants from poor families for jobs in government services sitting in public examinations.
The government ignores the leaks that happen through coaching centers by turning a blind eye and arresting mere accomplices or low level field workers as an eyewash to the public. The main culprits behind these coaching centers walk freely. The fact is that they operate as part of powerful syndicate having contact persons over the channel from persons preparing the question papers to printing and distribution. They are enjoying regular impunity and so the leakage of question papers is going on. But such practice as it has become a regular business with shares of benefits going to powerful quarters, has already threatened the credibility of public examinations. Reports said 63 question paper sets were leaked in last four years to suggest that it has become almost endemic without punishing the culprits and bringing correction to the system of question setting to printing and its supply to exam centers.
Question papers leakage must stop to restore trust in public examinations. Ignoring the crime is making the total public exam system discriminatory to the benefit of the rich while the state will suffer at the end from merit crisis at all level. In our view the government must discipline the coaching centers and punish those which have facilitated question papers leakage.
