Minister defends statement on cheating

Bihar Education Minister P.K. Shahi on Monday defended his controversial statement that it was not the State Government’s responsibility alone to stop cheating, saying such malpractices take place all over the country, including in the UPSC examination.

Responsibility

“What wrong did I commit by saying it is not the State Government’s responsibility alone to conduct cheating-free matriculation examination? Shouldn’t the guardians and the society at large take responsibility for conducting matriculation examination in fair manner?” Mr. Shahi asked in the Assembly in presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Claiming that his remarks were blown “out of proportion”, Mr. Shahi said his reference to the role of guardians and society at large was aimed at inviting a debate on the malpractice which has brought disrepute to Bihar.

Reports of large scale cheating in matriculation examination surfaced from across the state on March 19 and video showed parents/guardians climbing up to a four-storied building in Vaishali district to provide chits to their wards.

Mr. Shahi, however, denied that he had said the State Government was not capable of conducting a cheating-free examination.

“I had made an appeal to the guardians and parents to stop their wards from indulging in malpractice while writing the examination which was being held in over 1,100 centres throughout the State,” Mr. Shahi said.

He said steps have been taken to prevent cheating in the matriculation examination after reports of cheating created an outrage prompting the Chief Minister to direct the officials to take strict action to ensure cheating-free examination.

Not an exceptional issue

Mr. Shahi also defended his remarks that copying is not an exceptional issue in the country.

No competitive or academic examination in the country is free from cheating, he said adding there have been reports of cheating in IAS examination.

Cheating in different examinations also take place in other States, including Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Shahi said without giving details.

Matriculation examination in Bihar is underway from March 18 in which about 14.27 lakh examinees were appearing at 1,217 centres. - PTI