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16.
CHEATING , A SCOURGE FOR PAKISTAN
An acquaintance promised my daughter to get her article on a
topic to relating to the problems of labour published in an UN Body magazine of
which he was the editor . The article was published but in his own name .
With greater freedom for the media especially the
electronic media, it has been covering and displaying scenes of cheating in the
examination halls on the TV . TV footage show young boys and girls merrily and
unashamedly in cheating from books or slips of paper. There was a time when
cheating in the examinations was looked down upon . But times have changed .
The greater surprise is when the authorities show their hopelessness . But what
do we expect from the young boys and girls of the blighted country when the
Federal Board of education in Islamabad tried to jack the marks of the daughter
of the infamous Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar . And the greater pity was the Chief
Justice of the defunct Islamabad High Court .( The Islamabad High Court has
been re- established ) . Similar is the case of the daughter of Mr. Justice
Riaz Akhtar Chaudary of the Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir .
Many parliamentarians are in danger of losing their
seats . Each day reports come of someone losing their seats in the Parliament .
Even the superior courts are stepping , the more shocking news were when that
joker , Jamshed Dasti , who claimed to have a degree in Islamic Education ,
failed to answer elementary
questions on Islam of the Supreme Court , was appointed an Adviser to the Prime
Minister on Livestock . He resigned in disgrace . What message is being
conveyed to the people by the Prime Minister . There is a limit to insulting
the intelligence of the people of this country . Rather than feeling ashamed of
what had done , he is campaigning to regain his seat in the bye- elections ,
and the Prime Minister is backing him up .
Cheating is not only done in exams . But it is common
in every field under the sun ; be it foodstuffs or medicines particularly life
saving drugs or matrimonial affairs when the families of boys and girls overdo
each other through cheating . However , the relations based on falsehood end in
matrimonial disputes .
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I remember in 1964 , some friends paid Rs. five only
to the person who was engaged serving water to the candidates sitting in the
examination hall . On the morning of the Convocation for getting BSc degree ,
the Head Clerk of the College was asking , rather ‘demanding’ Rs five from each
boy or girl for sweet meats . When the Masters degrees were being given , the
rate was multiplied by one hundred per cent i.e. Rs ten from each boy or girl .
If any argued with him on the question of morality meant that he or she would
not be getting degrees on that important day.
There was a time when loafers , drunk or any bad
character were few and far between in any locality . The children of the
locality were taught by their elders not to go near them . Now the norms have
changed are in the process of changing more . Every sort of a character live
side by side in posh areas in big cities .
When we were young , teachers devoted themselves to
teaching . Teaching was done in schools and colleges only . There was no
concept of tuition . We had very dedicated teachers and professors . In the
small towns and villages , the teachers were rarely paid monthly salaries .
Sometimes they were paid after six months . I cannot go on without adding some
words to the dedication of the Principal , Mr. Catchpole and my teachers of the
Cadet College , Hasan Abdal . The Principal and the teachers were always
available to attend to the small and big needs of the cadets regardless of the
time . They were like our parents . While the cadets were preparing for the
Board examinations ,they would leave their beds at night and go to each
individual cadet to solve any difficulty . For cadets who were weak in
Mathematics , the concerned teachers used to hold special class . All efforts
by the teachers were gratis .This is for
the love of the boys . Not a single cent
was charged to the cadet or his parents . The teachers of yore had the belief
that they were being paid by the school or college as the case may be . Thus ,
there was no concept of tuition .
A young man I know is studying in a very prestigious
college in Islamabad . In the evening , he goes to an academy for tuition . His
parents tells us that in the academy , there are one hundred students . If his
parents are being charged for his tuition , what are his teachers doing in the
morning in this ‘prestigious college’ . Is not that cheating ? Are’nt his
teachers paid ? Is it morally correct for his teachers at his ‘prestigious
college’ or at the academy ? What sort of
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Islam is being followed ? During discussions with the
teachers , most of them claim to be true followers of Islam and the Holy
Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him ) . An Islamabad college
principal , I know , teaches in an academy in the evening . I know he is honest
and otherwise devout . But is it morally correct for him when he is being paid
by the Government ?
An eye specialist working in the Benazir Bhutto
General Hospital in 1964 called me to his house when I visited him in the
hospital for getting eye examined . Another one, a private one , gave me
incorrect number for my glasses . After I went to the doctor for the correct
number , he charged once again.
I am in the twilight of my life . My children have
passed this phase . They are grown ups and educated . But still I dread the
future for my grandchildren’ sake, for this country’s sake , for the nation’s
sake . What sort of boys and girls are passing out from the country’s
educational institutions ? What kind of doctors or engineers are we producing ?
Are we ready to face the challenges of the world ? Are we ready to emulate the
advancement made by the world ? We cannot do that if we cheat our way .
MAHFOOZ UR RAHMAN
ISLAMABAD
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