Strengthening the Education System: Legal Reforms Needed to Address Examination Integrity
INTRODUCTION
The integrity of examination systems is crucial to ensure that education performs its basic function: to arm the student with knowledge and skills measured fairly. In the last few years, malpractices in examinations have created an alarming situation that has made it imperative to seek legal amendments to strengthen the educational system. Incidents related to national-level examination patterns, specifically NEET and UGC NET, have surfaced some of the weak points within the system.
The newly enacted Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 can be taken as the first right step. It promises effectively to curb these evils by legislation.
NEED FOR LEGAL REFORMS
The public trust in educational assessments has been eroded by malpractices of exams, such as cheating and paper leaks. Such incidents not only challenge the authenticity of the testing procedure but also devalue the effort of honest students. Since such acts have not been stopped by the existing legal framework, deep reforms are required to regain integrity.
RECENT SCANDAL
This is because the leakage of examination paper by an organized cheating network has created a demand for accountability and outrage. At present, in this current scenario, Indian needs accountability in all the educational departments. All the minister and all the member of the department are equally responsible to strengthen the education system. For instance, in cases such as people who sat for several exams were found with leaked question papers. Such examples are clear of the need for an efficient legal system that would strengthen its force to deal effectively with such issues.
LEGISLATIVE RESPONDING
There is the answer to the increasing question of cheating and examination malpractices, public examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, it is this new legislation to make the public examination scenario safer and more secure in Indian. The legislation zeroes in on the imposition of a sterner penalty upon those dishonest practices during examinations while giving a clear-cut framework on accountability among parties to the examination process.
MAIN PROVISION OF THE PUBLIC EXAMINATION
The Public Examinations Bill embodies several key provisions in strengthening the integrity of an examination:
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Formation of a Centralized Examination Authority
The main aspect of the Bill is the establishment of the Centralized Examination Authority, (CEA). The said entity will oversee the delivery of public exams across the country so that uniform compliance with the prevailing standards and procedures will be adhered to.
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Biometric Identity Requirements
In order to prevent impersonation and to ascertain that the examinees are who they appear to be, biometric scanning will be done at the examination centers.
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Harsher Penalties
The Bill prescribes much heavier punishments for persons committing examination-related offenses than under the law as it stood earlier. For instance, ten years’ imprisonment is permissible for grievous offenses and a fine up to ₹1 crore.
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Accountability for Service Providers
Examination organizers will also bear responsibility for any negligence or involvement in cheating activities. This provision mandates that all entities engaged in the administration of examinations are held accountable for upholding integrity throughout the entire process.
TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION
Besides legal reforms, it is also important that advanced technology be integrated in examination processes so that security is enhanced, and integrity remains intact.
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AI Surveillances Systems
AI surveillance systems will strengthen the security features of examinations inasmuch as they scan candidates in real-time and then identify and flag any abnormal behavior or irregularity as a suspected case of cheating.
With advanced algorithms, AI can identify malpractices in the acts of candidates and, hence, will notify the authorities beforehand. So, with this AI system implementation, the union public service commission (UPSC) Plant decides to implement AI-driven CCTV cameras with facial recognition ability at all examination centers across the country.
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Blockchain Technology
Block-chain technology provides a tamper-proof method of maintaining a record of an examination. Using the technology in storing data of questions linked to papers, registration for candidates, and results ensures that every piece of information that has been inputted in records will be kept there with complete security and verifiability. The transparency thus grants assurance to stakeholders, yet an immutable record may at times be audited, if necessary. Decentralized in its nature, blockchain does not hold any information in one single place; thus, there is no probability of tampering or losing data. This chain holds transactions or records, so changing previous ones is difficult and nearly impossible without it being noticed, creating high levels of security through trust amongst students, their educators, and employers by knowing the authenticity of those academic records.
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Transparence in evaluation procedures:
Transparency in the evaluation procedure is as essential to regain confidence in exams. Students should get access to their answer sheets and criteria of grading so that they can challenge discrepancies more effectively. This level of transparence builds up the confidence in the system and makes people believe that examinations are held fairly
PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTATION
Though the Public Examinations Bill is a milestone, there are a few problems in its implementation
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Resource Allocation
Infrastructural and staff training investment will be quite considerable in implementing biometric systems and AI surveillance. Academic institutions need to commit enough resources to ensure these technologies work well in their institutions.
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Inhibitive factors of change
This might be challenging for students, teachers, and administrators to accept if they are resistant to such changes because they are accustomed to the conventional techniques of examination. Students, teachers, and administrators will take some time to absorb new tools and processes. Huge training programs and awareness campaigns to make people aware of this change will be needed.
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Privacy Issue
Other reasons why candidates will be nervous when asked to disclose private information before anyone conducts their exams are privacy issues where biometric identification is applied. In this regard, the law makers should, therefore focus on such matters, such as by ensuring that strong data protection mechanisms and management of candidate’s information exist.
CONCLUSION
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, has reached an important milestone in the educational history of India. The act restores public confidence in the integrity of examinations by imposing harsh penalties and setting up a strong regulatory framework.
For such a strategy to succeed in the long term, technical progress and openness are absolutely indispensable; law reforms alone will not achieve it. For effective implementation of reforms.
Author: Sugam Shakya, in case of any queries please contact/write back to us at support@ipandlegalfilings.com or IP & Legal Filing
REFERENCES
https://www.unodc.org/documents/e4j/UNESCO/2795_18_Global_Citizenship_Education_for_the_Rule_of_Law_gris_complet.pdf
https://ncert.nic.in/pdf/focus-group/examination_reforms.pdf
https://completejusticepodcast.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Jane+Schukoske+-+Legal+Education+Reform+in+India+-+Dialogue+Among+Indian+Law+Teachers.pdf
https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforms-in-education-system
