Race for grades

The race for grades has, unfortunately, had devastating effects on our education system. Almost everyone – from students and their parents to education institutions that advertise students’ grades as their achievements – assume that only good grades are the key to success. Schools encourage rote-learning among students so that they can secure higher percentages. As a result, students lack critical thinking skills and, at times, find it difficult to understand even basic concepts. Also, this culture of grade-worshipping has indirectly become the primary cause of cheating. Since students are more concerned about getting good marks, they do not shy away from using unfair means.

One thing common in all board exams across the country is that a majority of students – and all related stakeholders – willingly pay thousands of rupees to get their hands on the question paper before the actual exam. While cheating does help them achieve one big milestone, they find it difficult when they enter the practical world. If we want to create an educated and talented youth, we need to take steps to bring much-needed reforms to our education system. All education boards across the country should take stricter measures to root out the menace of cheating.

Amir Palosi ( Peshawar )