Is nothing sacred?

The images of the youngsters (students) busy carrying out their secret operation of passing answers via their cell phones to some of the examinees sitting for their admission tests in Dhaka University instantly reminded me of the scenes from an episode of the Indian TV series, Crime Patrol.

Crime Patrol happens to be my favorite late-night TV shows. I enjoy the series because it portrays true crime stories of India, nicely reenacted by the actors. The series shows how the criminals commit crimes (of all nature) and the cops, after intelligent investigation, nab them.

Mind you, these well-made TV shows serve both the parties. The criminals are encouraged to plan and carry out their acts by watching these episodes, and the police get the boost to learn more investigative methods to close the cases. So, it’s a learning ground for both.

Our students who were to “pass” the right answers to the examinees in the halls via their cell phones belong to a larger criminal gang, comprising of students, underworld goons, and teachers.

I felt like I was watching an episode of the Bangladeshi version of Crime Patrol from a distance. So, now they are invading the most sacred of territories, desecrating the seats of the highest form of learning.

It was encouraging to watch the crime busters move in and blow up the burrow and nab the immoral examinees. We can reason with the youngsters getting involved in these adventures for money, for excitement, or for heroics.

But what about the teachers ganging up with these youngsters? What to make of these tutors who are supposed to be the leaders of a society? Perish in shame, you rascals.

Not too long ago, we saw the question paper leakage scam. All heads sat together to find a way to stop the rot. Nothing tangible happened. This has been happening quite often.

The Education Ministry suggested bringing changes in the system. But the wise know whatever system we establish, nothing will work unless we get to the root and plug the holes where the water seeps in. We must try and arrest the trend in the minds of the culprits.

High-tech systems are being hacked with smarter devices and profound leakages have been taking place. Robbing of private information is now no longer surreptitious. There is no private life for anyone – it has now become prone to theft and intrusion.

On the other end, the education minister was not quite at ease with the “rigid” admission test methods followed by the university authorities. He was annoyed because of the disquieting percentage of successful candidates.

He expressed his dismay when he found out that only two examinees qualified for admission into the English department.

The vice-chancellor however differs with the education minister. He thought the process was fine and there was nothing wrong with being stringent in scrutinising prospective learners. So far so good.

The tug of war is on. The minister wants higher pass percentages (not really caring about the quality), and more conscientious sections prefer quality education.

Once again, there is a battle of words and a clash of interests. The government would like to take credit for having a successful run with a high pass percentage.

But the universities are tightening the noose. They are trying to slow down the intrusion of pedestrian students getting into these seats of learning.

Whatever may be the reasons behind the high pass rate or low intake, the fact is that we know most of the students who secure Golden A+ or achieve other good grades have mostly failed to perform at the higher levels.

They seldom achieve satisfactory marks in the professional fields. Most of them don’t even qualify in the preliminary selection process of any job. A majority of them are unbelievably ignorant.

They don’t know what they have learned, what they are trying to say or do, and what they are actually looking for.

They are a shameful symbol of deceit and ignorance – victims of defective systems, low-quality teaching, and immoral individuals manning the education sector.

We have already been invaded by the syndicated gangs. Our consumer market, clubs and associations, social and religious institutions, transport and development sectors, and financial institutions are all in the grip of dark men with spoilt minds.

They are committing crimes that make you shiver. The anomalies in the gold crest given to the friends of Bangladesh, the fake freedom fighters’ certificates used by top government servants with no fear or shame, the trading of educational certificates by many private universities, illegal medical clinics and hospitals operating in broad daylight, land grabbing by the powerful, and harrowing acts of murder committed by the members of law enforcing agencies are all too common.

Perhaps these immoral souls will keep invading our sacred territories until we have nothing left. Soon we shall have more people running after more wealth, while there will be souls out in search of God.