Cheat to teach? Why such malaise should not be ignored

No, this is not just a case of clamour for government jobs. Nor, is it about smarter and tech-savvy ways to cheat in an exam. It's beyond all that we've see so far and ignored, assuming that this is how we are and this how our system works.

The recently held Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET) was in the news for disturbing reasons. The scale it which the exams were being held had enough room for different types of malpractices, as is typical of any such exam at the state level. Few applicants were caught using a bluetooth device fitted in their slipper to cheat in the exam and the government decided to hold the test under tight security by shutting down the internet completely! This symptomatic treatment by the government will be forgotten soon, since the underlying cause lies ignored. And something of this sort is bound to recur.

There is desperation all around. These guys could purchase a bluetooth slipper paying Rs. 2 lakhs each, to cheat and become eligible for the post of a school teacher (primary and upper primary). The 'enterprising' people who made such slippers could have made use of their ingenuity for a better cause. The government could have acted differently..... many hypothetical things could have been done.

There is a dysfunctional system that need a complete overhaul. Is there a way to overcome the risks of conducting such exams on a massive scale, or for that matter isn't there a better way to assess the eligibility of the candidates? Are those who apply for such teaching positions, in multiple attempts, genuinely interested in teaching? Apparently for most of them it's the lure of a government job with all that it stands for.

There is dangerous apathy and malaise. Evidently, cases such as this, show how critical it is to provide necessary counselling, instil confidence, skills and knowledge for becoming employable - beyond government jobs. There is a dire need to prepare the youth for a world of work that is uncertain and insecure and they need to fall back on their knowledge and skills to access different sources of livelihood.

Let's act now and if you share my unease and also share my sense of hope in improving the situation with right skills and education, do share your thoughts and action points.

Incidentally, 'cheat' is an anagram of 'teach'!

#teacher #teach #skills #education #examination