Kaushambi (Uttar Pradesh), March 13: Uttar Pradesh Education Minister Rangnath Mishra was shocked recently when he discovered officials at a government-run school helping students to cheat in the board examination.

Several students of the Gautam Buddha Senior Secondary School were caught cheating red-handed while taking their board examinations for standard X on Tuesday.

The students were found openly discussing question papers in groups and also using the help books and chits before writing down their answers. A few cases of impersonation also surfaced during the minister’s inspection.

A First Information Report (F. I. R) has been filed against the errant school officials.

The minister also warned other schools of stern action if they are found abetting cheating in the examinations.

“This clearly shows that the business of fraud and cheating going on in the name of examination of a school. Now all examinations will be held in Allahabad," said Mishra.

These schools should not be given recognition because they have no proper infrastructure, he added.

He said the Education Department would cancel the registration and recognition of affiliated schools that permit such malpractices in the State by July, 2008.

Senior officials have assured the minister that they will curb all malpractices by next year.

Sudha Prakash, a Joint Director with the Department of Education in Uttar Pradesh, said instances of cheating were less this year. (ANI)