IT is a measure of how bankrupt a society is when those tasked with educating its younger generation are willing to barter the country`s future for profit. An inquiry report by the Counter-Terrorism Department has exposed a massive racket in Karachi`s secondary education system The investigation implicates 23 officials of the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi and five education department officials. These individuals, in collusion with a `private agent mafia`, were engaged in leaking question papers; making fake admit cards to enable fraud; changing examination centres as per students` choice; enhancing marks post-tabulation; organising large-scale cheating; and other malpractices to game the examination system. The Hyderabad Board has also been found to be culpable to some extent. According to the report, there were nine private agents who were the intermediaries between the board officials/staff and the students. It was a racket that minted money for all those playing a role in it.

While we have sadly become almost blasé about corruption, there are some scandals that still have the capacity to shock and dishearten.

This is one of them. It is difficult to comprehend the mindset of education officials who would participate, for the right price, in fur ther decimating this country`s public education system. It is not the first time that BIEK has been found involved in such illegal activities, and it is high time those involved in such practices were prosecuted to the full extent of the law. And what to say of those students who would take short cuts to `success` and accept plaudits they do not deserve rather than work for well-earned accolades? Moreover, those who manage to manipulate the system cannot find success in their chosen careers, for they will not have acquired knowledge, only the know-how of using deceit to achieve their ends. Unfortunately perhaps, the use of unethical means by some students also discourages the many who apply themselves diligently to their studies, those young people who are our hope for tomorrow.