Question paper leakage

Only the other day we had expressed our dismay at question paper leakage in Dhaka University in this column. We had urged the government to take strong measures to prevent recurrence of such incident so that honest students did not suffer in the process. But before we heard of any worthy measures taken by the authorities towards apprehending the network of criminals, the story of leakage of 2nd year Honours English Compulsory Examination 2006 question paper in the National University (NU) came as a shocker. The leakage fiasco forced students of a number of NU affiliated institutions like Dhaka College and Eden College come out protesting on streets, which subsequently led to the suspension of the examination. We believe NU has formed a three-member investigation committee to get to the bottom of it and submit a report in seven days. It only remains to be seen whether this committee will deliver the goods or meet the same fate like that of the numerous ones in the past thrown into the cold chamber.
Leakage of question papers at the higher academic levels has turned into a malady in the recent years. In last five years we have been appalled a number of times by the recurrence of question paper leakage hours before the examinations, but, despite detailed reports in the media, very little has been done to prevent such incidence. Only recently students of the department of Political Science of Dhaka University alleged selling of question papers on the campus. Such shameful acts only discredit our education system and the glorious tradition attached to it. The bulk of the honest students suffer immensely when question papers find their way out and fall into the hands of the criminals and their cohorts. What is most painful is the allegation that a section of teachers are involved in the heinous act but remain the least suspected by the law enforcing authorities. We find this totally unacceptable and urge the government to form independent investigation body to identify such teachers and bring them to justice.
As said before, we have a well-acclaimed history of producing scholars of world standard, who are not only winning international accolades but also contributing to every department of the growth of human civilisation, including rocket science. We therefore are not ready to hear any more of proliferation of criminality in the educational institutes. Enough is enough. The authorities must come down heavily on the organised gangs operating from within to destroy the education sector.