Cheating Your Way To Success

The following year, a local news TV channel of Bihar ran a clip of two class 12th toppers struggling to answer basic questions related to their subjects. It was embarrassing to watch them say that political science “was all about cooking”. 

Why do students cheat?

The IPS officer Karim wasn’t satisfied with his current position. In 2014, he held the highest score in the UPSC ethics paper and ironically that is what he most lacked. He is debarred from the service and will most likely lose his job. What could have been a challenge that he would have overcome in a year or two has now turned into a public scandal with legal repercussions.

In 1996, the psychologist and economist George Loewenstein inferred that people weigh the benefits of the unethical action against the costs of committing it, and decide accordingly. (New Yorker)

Most commonly, students indulge in cheating as it is considered the easiest and quickest route. The underlying reason being, to get good grades. The education system has become more grade-oriented rather than encouraging learning. Parents and relatives too unknowingly reinforce the idea that academic success is paramount.  …………….Contd.