Government grant based on results explains Bihar exam scam

PATNA: A state government grant for private institutions, offered around 2007-08, based on the performance of students in the Class XII examinations is one reason that reportedly led to a race among the owners of private institutions to ensure a good results of their colleges.

This explains Bihar’s current educational scam when the topper of Class 12th examinations in the art stream, Ruby Ray, defined political science as a subject relating to cooking in a TV interview on May 30. Although Bihar government initiated tough police action against all those involved in this scam, it has adversely affected CM Nitish Kumar’s image as “Sushasan Babu” at national level. Before the scam surfaced, the state government had undertaken massive exercise to stop “cheating” in the examination. Right from district magistrates to SPs and their subordinates were engaged to ensure “free and fair” examination of class 10th and 12th this year. The scam came to light after that.

It all began in the first week of June when government officials lodged an FIR and subsequently, a SIT was formed. The SIT has so far arrested about 20 persons, including former chairman of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, his wife and former JD(U) MLA Usha Sinha, the then topper of Inter (arts) Ray and Director - cum - principal of VR College, Vaishali, Bachcha Roy.

The probe found that former chairman Lalkeshwar was liberal in granting affiliation to private institutions offering Class XII education. “During his two years tenure as BSEB’chairman, about 200 private institutions were granted affiliation. All such private colleges are now under scanner,” a source in the state’s education department said.

Usha Sinha had represented Hilsa seat that falls under CM Kumar’s native district Nalanda.