Two important examinations, HSLC and HSSLC started a few days back. HSLC exam commonly known as matric exam the first educational benchmark in formal education. A child in a family is considered to have come of age if she or he sits for matric exam. These two exams decide the fate of thousands of students every year. Some of them will shine above the rest. Position holders will garner accolades from one and all. And those who fail to get a passing mark will have to wait for another year. This examination looked more like a carnivalsome years back. Parikhya Chenba was a big social spectacle. Friends and relatives would venture near the examination centres, trying to smuggle answer notes inside. Police would chase them like stray cattle. Arrival of examination authorities, better known as flying squad would add commotion to the scene. For the record, let it be known to the government authorities that cleansing of this examination system was initiated by an outlawed group. Their drive was significant. Agreed that the group had their share of flaks as far as their method was concern, but it did check the culture of cheating in board examinations. As a result, the picture has changed today. However there is a disturbing trend that has gain momentum in the current examinations. Students’ organisations have volunteered themselves to check unfair means. Among the sheets of press handout that we receive every day, inspection of examination centres by student groups would occupy our desk in good numbers. We appreciate their sense of involvement. Their role in shaping a nation is of course paramount. But this truism should not be confused with a license to function with absolute liberty. They are not immune to public scrutiny.
Students sitting inside an examination hall need special attention. It must be ensured that their needs are met without fail. Facilities like drinking water and proper washrooms should be made available at a comfortable distance. We doubt the centres have all such facilities leaving aside a few. And above all, a tranquil atmosphere is obligatory. How do the student volunteers conduct themselves inside an examination hall and around the campus? We presume that volunteers tend to move in large numbers like a platoon. A show of strength is required to announce their arrival at a spot. They throw their weight around, even to the point of overriding the invigilating authorities. This kind of action from any responsible student exposes their immaturity. Their failure to understand the meaning of an examination hall, the role of an invigilating authority – is their overall failure to understand the meaning of education. There may be students who might use unfair means. Other students who are not into it should be left undisturbed by all means. Students caught using unfair means should not be subjected to police custody like hard core criminals. They are sensitive juveniles who need proper direction in life. The media as well should not bring them to public spotlight. We should not be missing the woods for the bark.