The system cannot cope.

Cheating in exams is rampant in certain states in India. "The layers are coming off the mystery surrounding the scams carried out during the entrance exams for the Staff Selection Commission. The case with malpractices during the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) board exams is similar," wrote S Shekhar. The cheating industry is so strong that "it even left an adverse impact on election results. Since then, politicians have avoided intervening in these matters". "Why are Indian lawmakers, who are ready to take umbrage at the drop of a hat, silent on this serious matter?" he asks. When photos of parents climbing windows to supply cheat sheets to their children in Bihar went across the world the government took action. Last year in Bihar, 70% of students failed in the science stream and 76% failed in arts when authorities cracked down on cheating. This year students have been forbidden from wearing shoes and socks when they appear for Board exams. Over a million students did not sit their exams in UP this year because of a government crackdown on cheating. "Cheating is an outcome of improper teaching, and students are only victims of the system, which has over the years forced them to adopt such things. There is an urgent need to revamp the education system where teachers, right from the primary school level, should be engaged more in teaching rather doing other work," said youth sociologist V Chandra. He is right, but cheating is extremely unfair on students who work hard throughout the year to do well honestly because they want to get admission in elite colleges where admission tests are so tough that only those in the top 0.5% have any hope of getting a seat. Apparently, government action has increased the rates of those who supplied the cheating material. Unfortunately teachers in government schools spend more time on other duties, such as supervising midday meals, census collection and election duties than on teaching. This year questions papers of at least two subjects were leaked and those exams will have to be taken again, putting students under unnecessary stress. Teachers cite countries like Finland which have done away with exams. The difference is that Finland has a very small population so every child gets personal attention and since education is a fundamental right it is free even for college students. India has a huge population, with Bihar and UP having the highest fertility rates. The only way to see if children are learning anything is to see their exam marks. If some students cheat everyone becomes suspect. No wonder there are 75,000 beggars who have passed Class 12 Boards and in Bihar, convicted murderers are prized as grooms. All the problems of India are because of the population. All we have to do is to reduce that.