While senior Ministers have acknowledged that malpractices take place in public exams on a large scale in Bihar, it also gives rise to suspicion on whether such mass copying takes place in connivance with the officials concerned even in general job recruitment examinations (“ >Mass copying in Bihar a social issue ,” March 22). Mass copying is rampant not only in Bihar but also in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana and Rajasthan. The fact that there are more candidates from North India emerging successful in Central government and public sector undertaking exams also gives rise to this suspicion. In the interest of justice, examinations for recruitment should be conducted outside these States in order to ensure the fair selection of meritorious candidates.
S. Srinivasan,
Chennai
The visual, of people climbing on to ledges of an exam centre building, and in broad daylight, in order to help examinees, was disturbing and a blot on the system of education in Bihar. It’s really troubling that instead of taking strict action, the State Education Minister has tried to shrug off the government’s responsibility despite the fact that Bihar has a law to deal with the menace of copying in board examinations. This unfortunate incident throws open, once again, the debate about whether these examinations create undue pressure on parents and children. The struggle to make it to a good college, amid soaring cut-offs and a handful of seats, continues to give many a student sleepless nights.
Geethu Issac,
Navi Mumbai
