Bihar's education system has taken a knock on its reputation following a scam, which enabled toppers to "buy" their position. Bihar Education Minister Ashok Choudhary acknowledges that the state government was duped by the very people entrusted to protect the system. However, in an interview with Satyavrat Mishra, he maintains that the state government has been unfairly targeted.
Looking back, there were enough signs about things being amiss in the Class XII exams. Why were these signs overlooked?
There were no early signs or warning about wrongdoing. We tried our best to make the system foolproof. CCTV cameras were installed at examination centres and we deputed enough people to fight the menace of cheating. No efforts were spared to keep bad elements as far away as possible. Due to our efforts, the number of successful candidates dropped by more than 20 per cent. This shows how serious our government was in conducting a free and fair examination. We left no scope for people to use unfair means. We tried our best to plug the leakages.
Are you saying that the government was taken by surprise?
No, no, it's not like that. There was something fishy going on. We knew that people were working against the system. Yet the leakages happened, that's why we treated it as a serious offence. We have filed an FIR and charged those responsible with criminal conspiracy.
Don't you think these revelations have once again sullied the state's reputation?
People are saying such a big scam happened in Bihar, but why are they not looking at the Class X exams in Haryana? What happened in Uttar Pradesh? Why are they not talking about that? What about Delhi, where the girl who scored 100 out of 100 in English can't complete a sentence in that launguage? What have these states done so far? They have done nothing. Why are people not speaking or writing about that?
At least, the Bihar government is sensitive enough to act on this issue. Still we have become a target. This is total hypocrisy.
The scam has taken its toll. How is the government planning to regain the trust of the people on this matter?
Besides the police investigations, the education department has also launched a full-fledged operation to cleanse the system. It has been correctly named as "Operation Clean". The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman has been sacked and named as an accused in the FIR. The charge of BSEB has been given to a senior IAS official. He is working hard to make the system more transparent.
This apart, we are investigating the affiliations given to schools and junior colleges in the recent past. We have also launched a detailed inquiry into the working of B.Ed colleges. We are also looking into the degree colleges' affiliations. There are several steps that the government has taken. However, when the government is acting on this matter, some people with vested interests are fighting against the good intentions of the government.
Private colleges have been found at the centre of this wrongdoing. What are you doing to rein them in?
First of all, those colleges will be identified where there are no regular classes. They will be disaffiliated. Those with more than their sanctioned number of students will also be de-listed. Strong action will be taken against the wrongdoers.
What is being done now to re-structure the education system in Bihar? What are the changes we should expect to see in the coming days?
We are planning a lot of corrections. For primary education, we are coming up with a Teachers' Training Programme. For secondary and higher secondary eudcation, the department has planned to recruit more teachers. For higher education, the state government is planning to implement a choice-based credit system, MIS system and a Higher Education Examination Council.
However, it's a big department and therefore, it will take some time to implement the whole list. It's not that the rot happened yesterday. It has been taking place for a number of years, hence it will take some time to get things back on track.
What's being done to improve transparency in the working of the BSEB?
We are working on a whole list of reforms. The new chairman is working on the issue. The BSEB is getting computerised to minimise human interference. The whole office of the BSEB will be under CCTV cameras. Mark-sheets and certificates will be barcoded next year onwards. Evaluation centres will be chosen through the computer and there will be no human interference. Everything will be available online from next year to ensure transparency.
The quality of education in Bihar is a matter of concern. What's being done on that front?
The intention of the government is to have quality education and we are sincerely working on that. In the case of higher education, we are recruiting people through the Bihar Public Service Commission. We are serious about it. In secondary education, the state has decided to appoint 32,000 teachers in the near future. The appointments will be done in phases.
What about basic infrastructure like classrooms, bathrooms etc?
These issues are present in every corner of the country. The population is increasing. You want an ideal environment, but have you been able to make an ideal society after so many years of Independence? The biggest achievement of this government is the number of children it brought to school. When Nitish Kumar took charge of the state (in 2005), 14 per cent of children were out of school; today the number has come down to 0.1 per cent. This is our biggest achievement.
Looking back, there were enough signs about things being amiss in the Class XII exams. Why were these signs overlooked?
There were no early signs or warning about wrongdoing. We tried our best to make the system foolproof. CCTV cameras were installed at examination centres and we deputed enough people to fight the menace of cheating. No efforts were spared to keep bad elements as far away as possible. Due to our efforts, the number of successful candidates dropped by more than 20 per cent. This shows how serious our government was in conducting a free and fair examination. We left no scope for people to use unfair means. We tried our best to plug the leakages.
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However, what could we have done when the people responsible for plugging the leaks conspired to work against us? When those with the authority to make the system work, connived against the system? How could we have known about it earlier? That's why we filed an first information report (FIR) with the police.
Are you saying that the government was taken by surprise?
No, no, it's not like that. There was something fishy going on. We knew that people were working against the system. Yet the leakages happened, that's why we treated it as a serious offence. We have filed an FIR and charged those responsible with criminal conspiracy.
Don't you think these revelations have once again sullied the state's reputation?
People are saying such a big scam happened in Bihar, but why are they not looking at the Class X exams in Haryana? What happened in Uttar Pradesh? Why are they not talking about that? What about Delhi, where the girl who scored 100 out of 100 in English can't complete a sentence in that launguage? What have these states done so far? They have done nothing. Why are people not speaking or writing about that?
At least, the Bihar government is sensitive enough to act on this issue. Still we have become a target. This is total hypocrisy.
The scam has taken its toll. How is the government planning to regain the trust of the people on this matter?
Besides the police investigations, the education department has also launched a full-fledged operation to cleanse the system. It has been correctly named as "Operation Clean". The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman has been sacked and named as an accused in the FIR. The charge of BSEB has been given to a senior IAS official. He is working hard to make the system more transparent.
This apart, we are investigating the affiliations given to schools and junior colleges in the recent past. We have also launched a detailed inquiry into the working of B.Ed colleges. We are also looking into the degree colleges' affiliations. There are several steps that the government has taken. However, when the government is acting on this matter, some people with vested interests are fighting against the good intentions of the government.
Private colleges have been found at the centre of this wrongdoing. What are you doing to rein them in?
First of all, those colleges will be identified where there are no regular classes. They will be disaffiliated. Those with more than their sanctioned number of students will also be de-listed. Strong action will be taken against the wrongdoers.
What is being done now to re-structure the education system in Bihar? What are the changes we should expect to see in the coming days?
We are planning a lot of corrections. For primary education, we are coming up with a Teachers' Training Programme. For secondary and higher secondary eudcation, the department has planned to recruit more teachers. For higher education, the state government is planning to implement a choice-based credit system, MIS system and a Higher Education Examination Council.
However, it's a big department and therefore, it will take some time to implement the whole list. It's not that the rot happened yesterday. It has been taking place for a number of years, hence it will take some time to get things back on track.
What's being done to improve transparency in the working of the BSEB?
We are working on a whole list of reforms. The new chairman is working on the issue. The BSEB is getting computerised to minimise human interference. The whole office of the BSEB will be under CCTV cameras. Mark-sheets and certificates will be barcoded next year onwards. Evaluation centres will be chosen through the computer and there will be no human interference. Everything will be available online from next year to ensure transparency.
The quality of education in Bihar is a matter of concern. What's being done on that front?
The intention of the government is to have quality education and we are sincerely working on that. In the case of higher education, we are recruiting people through the Bihar Public Service Commission. We are serious about it. In secondary education, the state has decided to appoint 32,000 teachers in the near future. The appointments will be done in phases.
What about basic infrastructure like classrooms, bathrooms etc?
These issues are present in every corner of the country. The population is increasing. You want an ideal environment, but have you been able to make an ideal society after so many years of Independence? The biggest achievement of this government is the number of children it brought to school. When Nitish Kumar took charge of the state (in 2005), 14 per cent of children were out of school; today the number has come down to 0.1 per cent. This is our biggest achievement.