Students caught copying may get off with lighter rap

Updated on: Saturday, August 27, 2011

The state government is considering relaxing punishment for students caught copying in the SSC or HSC board exams.

Education minister Rajendra Darda has called a meeting of board officials this week to review the issue. “We will invite suggestions from academicians,” Darda told TOI. The intention to reduce punishment is not to encourage copying, the minister said. “It often happens that a good student is tempted to copy and gets caught. He/ she should not get a permanent tag. Hence, the idea is to award a lighter punishment so that their career is not ruined,” Darda added.

However, the punishment for those students who arrange for dummy candidates will not be reduced. “We will initiate stern action against habitual offenders and those involved in impersonation. No sympathy will be shown towards such students,” the official added.

In 2010, 3,264 students were caught copying in the SSC board exams as compared to 5,366 in 2009. The existing rules say that if a student is caught copying, a committee will review their case. If the student is found guilty, he/ she is not allowed to appear for the next board exams. In case of dummy candidates, the student is debarred for three years and a police complaint is lodged against the dummy candidate.

Former chairman of the board, Vasant Kalpande said, “It’s a good initiative by the government. If the student has not done it intentionally, then there should be a lighter punishment. Instead of debarring the student for a year, the board should deduct a few marks as punishment.”

But former vice-chancellor of Mumbai University, Snehalata Deshmukh said, “No student should be spared for copying. Instead of reviewing the punishment, the department should find out why the student indulged in the act of copying. Once the reason is known, the department, along with the parents of the student, should work out a solution to ensure that the mistake is not repeated in the future,” she said.

Unfair Practices

•Students caught copying are debarred from appearing for the next board exams

•Students caught for impersonating (getting a dummy candidate to appear for the exam) are debarred for three years

Students caught copying may get off with lighter rap

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