Glaring failure

#Glaring failure

The recent incident involving the  leak of SSLC English and Maths and Plus One Mathematics exam papers highlights a glaring failure in the Kerala Education Department's ability to conduct examinations with integrity. While the Minister’s office has swiftly responded by directing the Director of General Education (DGE) to file complaints and pursue action against those responsible, this response alone cannot mask the underlying inefficiencies within the department.

If examination papers are leaking on platforms like YouTube, it reflects a deep breach of trust in the system, suggesting that not only are students at risk of an unfair assessment, but also that the sanctity of Kerala's educational standards is in jeopardy. Immediate and strict action is necessary, but it must be coupled with an introspective overhaul of how examinations are conducted and secured to prevent future lapses.

The commercialization of examinations has become alarmingly prevalent, with some coaching centers and affluent individuals exploiting their influence to manipulate results. This growing trend undermines the very principle of meritocracy in education, turning examinations into a game of wealth and connections rather than skill and knowledge. If the Education Department does not address this rot within the system, the final examinations will suffer the same fate, leading to widespread despair among students who strive hard to compete fairly. 

The integrity of the education system is at stake, and failure to act decisively now will only deepen the public's mistrust in an already fragile system.

-K A Solaman