Examination Malpractice

EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE– necessity or adversity? by ibat haibokna EDUCATION The schooling system which has evolved from one form to the other over the very ages of our world has become the reference for formal education endorsed by all. Civilisation has made it such that without academic education, acceptance into the society is frustrating. This has even put the so called learned individuals into automatic leadership in the community globally and granted unmerited privileges of all sort based on their intellect which is by virtue of logic, reasoning and rationale.

But, when we take a critical look at our world today, it looks as though our highly esteemed education system has failed. This is because we have been trained right from the home and all other points of initial social upbringing that being “on top” of your peers is the paramount thing. The education system has been no exception to this seemingly secular dogma.

The more educated are involved in much grievous evils so to say, in the marketplaces where the schooled earn their living have become extremely unethical and leadership in this present age is synonymous to greed, power drunkenness, scandals etc….

The University is the pinnacle for all academic institutions where the acclaimed future leaders go to further develop their intellect. It is reported that a shocking 3% out of all persons who begin the education race end up at the University. This places a huge burden of responsibility on the very system since it is required to manufacture the super brains of the world.

EXAMINATIONS Examinations which comes in all forms such as written, oral, objectives, subjective, multichoice and recently the CBA (computer based exams) is the method for measuring the output of a student. Originally examinations were not taken to show the level of intelligence of a student but to assimilate the depth of their understanding so as to offer them some grade or degree based on an accepted grading system.

There is no doubt that the initial purpose of examination with respect to education has been misconstrued and students at all levels of education would do anything possible whether by hook or crook to pass their exams. Cheating in the hall has become a norm and even the invigilators who are supposed to check for discrepancies in the hall and act accordingly are allowing cheating in the name of doing good. The so to speak righteous invigilators are not loved by students; who claim their faithfulness to their duty is actually wickedness. Instead of students studying they rather develop ways to cheat: some form of silent communication, sending in foreign materials and worst of all demanding answers in the exams hall – forcefully sometimes.

The common analogy used to compromise ‘doing right’ in the exams hall is ‘doing good’.

The chief question asked is “is it not good to help a friend in need”? Or as some folk also say “I’m just offering help”.