University saw minimum cheating cases in 2019

Amarjot Kaur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 11

The Panjab University (PU) Examination Branch recorded the least number of cheating cases in 2019 in the past four years.

According to the recent data of the university’s branch dealing with unfair means cases (UMC), clocked between December 2016 and May 2019, only 36 cases of cheating were recorded in May last year. The maximum number of unfair means cases during this time frame was counted at 84 in May 2018 — 42 from undergraduate courses, 38 from professional courses and four from MA courses. In 2016, the university recorded 47 such cases, 66 in May 2017, 56 in December 2017 and 47 in December 2018.

The data revealed a stark dip in cases of exam-room trickery, especially from May 2018 to May 2019, where the numbers plummeted from 84 to 36, amounting to a fall of 57 per cent in one year. “In December 2018, the number of cases almost halved from 84 to 47 and then further dipped to 36. Initially, only two or four flying squad teams would be sent to several exam centres, depending upon the need. However, now, not only have we increased the frequency of the flying squad visits but have also increased the number of teams to 40. The Vice-Chancellor office sends several professors/officials on surprise visit to centres. The DUI and DSWs have been deployed on duty from time to time,” said Parvinder Singh, PU’s Controller of Examination.

Another interesting trend that surfaced from the UMC data was that the maximum number of chicanery cases came from students enrolled in undergraduate courses, while the least number of cases were reported from MA courses.

In December 2017, the number of cheating cases in professional courses exceeded the undergraduate courses. In the same year, 30 such cases were reported in professional courses, 21 incidents in undergraduate courses and five in MA courses.

Commenting on the trend, Parvinder Singh said: “There are certain subjects where the maximum number of students cheat, such as in mathematics, English, economics and commerce. Possibly because these are subjective-type exams.” About the most common modus operandi, Singh said: “Handwritten chits always remain in fashion. It is still the most common way of cheating. We also take extensive measures to keep the cheaters in check — they are asked to keep the mobile phones outside and we do not allow outsiders in examination centres at all.”