Question Paper leak




The news of CBSE question paper leak took the peace loving islanders by surprise. We have been hearing board exams are not being conducted fairly in remote islands especially in the Nicobar group wherein it is said even a lame duck could overcome the toughest hurdle easily. Students hailing from Andaman opting Car Nicobar as examination centre has been in vogue! The trend is more prevalent among compartment students. It is written on the wall, appear examinations from Nicobar centre and pass with flying colours! But the secret stands exposed courtesy a news item published in a local daily Aspect, much to the discomfort of those behind the conspiracy.


Copying in exams used to be a regular feature, but the perpetrators upgraded to the next higher level – leaking question papers. Right from transportation of question paper bags from Port Blair to Car Nicobar, perpetrators had every bit of information. A trio, comprising a JE, a Ranger and Principal GSSS Lapathy, supported by their god father committed the crime of leaking CBSE question papers in a bid to give few chosen students an unfair advantage to score high which would eventually place them ahead of their peers in the merit list to be drawn on the basis of marks scored in the instant examination.

It is learnt the same trio of JE, the Ranger and the Principal managed to leak CBSE papers from Long Island centre in 2009 and succeeded in covering it up. But their 2011 attempt proved a booby trap. The matter was exposed in a private daily owned by MP, A&N Islands. A group of parents rised to the occasion, used mobile phone, SMS, internet and social networking sites to garner support. Other private newspapers also joined, the matter gained public attention and took shape of an uprising. Administration too acted in right earnest, conducted swift inquiry and revealed question paper bags have indeed been tampered with. Later the proclaimed offender trio along with two of their aides was arrested.

The incident brought to fore few important facets. Firstly the highly tolerant islanders raised their voice and took to the streets. Secondly the administration came face to face with the public accepting wrong doing and thirdly, a private local daily could attract government’s attention, a feat rarely seen in these islands till recently.

Amid all this, innocent students are great losers. Majority of the students did not even heard of paper leakage let alone getting benefitted, yet they have to bear the punishment of re-exam. The pain of writing exam twice is immense, but the trauma of being betrayed by their parents themselves is even more painful. The beneficiary students may not tell their greedy parents the unsolicited gift proved Trojan horse for them. But deep inside their heart they feel let down, dejected among peers. Their innocent minds corrupted ir-reversibly. Wherever they go, whatever they do, negative learning is going to get manifested in one or the other way in their dealings, sooner or later. The damage is hardwired permanently!
  
On the legal front, investigating the case is going to be an uphill task since involvement of few insiders form A&N Police has come to the fore. Reputation of A&N Police, prestige of the Directorate of Education, credibility of A&N Administration, name and fame of the peoples of A&N Islands everything is at stake. The chief concern however is our innocent children whose faith in the system has been shattered. However clean our students may be, they are bound to be looked upon with suspicion when they go for higher studies in mainland!

Under such widespread ramifications, it becomes necessary that investigation should proceed in an impartial, free, fair and transparent manner. All those, who so-ever it may be, involved in the crime be brought to justice. The Directorate of Education may have to conduct special counseling sessions, so that the needy students could be helped to overcome the trauma. Satyamev Jayate!


The post was carried in Echo of India, Vol IV Issue No 154 dated 14/03/2011

Comments

Zubair Ahmed said…
Well said Bhadra... Serious deliberations required to tackle the menace. The prestige of the admn is at stake now, not just the police. The should clarify their stand vis a vis Education department.
March 12, 2011 at 12:05 PM
sarika singh said…
sir,as belonging 2 d law field i must say d public prosecutor has done a outstanding slap on d face of culprits....as dey r soon gonna be sentenced...
November 15, 2011 at 11:18 PM
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