The ban on carrying mobile phones and other sophisticated gadgets inside the examination rooms is reason enough for schools to cheer, as they feel the move has considerably checked use of unfair means during examinations this year. If the past two years have witnessed a steep rise in cases of unfair copying, then high-tech gadgetry was to be blamed, they opine.

Previously, owing to the fact that cell phones were expensive, school authorities thought it best that the students take them inside the exam hall. However, they soon realised their erroneous decision. Shakuntala Singh, principal, Joshi Bedekar College, elaborated, “Instead of switching off their cells, students used SMS in a silent mode to receive messages on answers to questions, without us having a whiff about the whole affair. Now, we don’t allow cells inside the examination hall and cases of unfair means have come down to almost nil.”

Warning about the consequences of violating the code has also had its desired effect. Nikalesh Raut, 18, a student of HSC, said, “We know copying is a crime. And no one would like to be caught and lose his academic career.” Meera Korade, principal, Saraswati Vidyalaya High School and ex-member of a flying squad for board examinations, said, “During the last two years, we have nabbed students using mobile phones and i-pods for copying. Now, such cases have come down.”

Sukhada P Khandge/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication