INDIA – SCHOOL in India has faced a backlash after asking pupils to wear cardboard boxes on their heads during exams in a bid to clamp down on cheating.

Officials at the Bhagat Pre-University College in the southern state of Karnataka issued a public apology after images showing the practice went viral on social media.

The pictures, taken on Wednesday, showed rows of pupils sitting exams in chemistry and economics while wearing boxes with windows cut in the front to allow them to see.

College administrator MB Satish has apologised for the measure, and said the school had only implemented it on an “experimental basis” after hearing of its use elsewhere.

He also said the technique had been used with the students’ consent, and that some had even brought their own boxes.

“There was no compulsion of any kind,” he told BBC Hindi.

“You can see in the photograph that some students were not wearing it.

“Some who wore it removed it after 15 minutes, some after 20 minutes and we ourselves asked them to remove it after one hour.”

The school said it had now stopped the practice and was cooperating with the local education board, which is looking into the incident.

An official from the Haveri district told Indian news agency IANS: “A notice has been issued to Bhagat Pre-University College seeking explanation for forcing its students wear cardboard boxes while writing exams to prevent them from copying.

“Whatever be the purpose, [the students] cannot be made to wear cartons for writing exams.

Source : BBC & The Sun