Dr. Muhammad Noaman Saeed Khattak
Education is the backbone of any progressive society, but when it falls prey to corruption, cheating, and deception, the future of an entire generation is put at stake. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 
particularly in Karak, private educational institutions have turned cheating into a well-organized business, completely undermining the transparency of the examination system. This deeply rooted network involves private schools, examination staff, parents, and even some corrupt officials within the educational boards. The issue is worsening day by day, becoming a significant cause of educational destruction in the region.
Many students who are originally studying in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, or Peshawar enroll in Karak’s private schools solely to appear for exams under a more “controlled†environment. During examination days, these students take their exams in specific centers where they are granted full freedom to cheat. Even students from remote areas and other cities are registered under the pretense of providing them “educational opportunities,†while the real objective is to secure high scores by any means, fair or foul.
Private educational institutions are playing a central role in this entire scandal. Their primary goal is not to impart education but to produce spectacular results that enhance their reputation and profits. To achieve this, they employ various tactics. Their own teachers are assigned duties in examination centers to facilitate students in every possible way. Question papers are leaked beforehand to selected students, ensuring they perform well. Photocopy shops near examination centers are set up where leaked question papers are readily available. Examination staff is bribed with cash, gifts, and incentives to turn a blind eye to mass cheating. If any honest invigilator or examiner dares to resist, they are threatened, humiliated, and sometimes even subjected to physical assault.
This entire game revolves around numbers and scores, but the real damage is inflicted upon students themselves. They may secure high marks through cheating, but when they face real tests such as FPSC, PPSC, KPSC, MDCAT, ECAT, or CSS, they fail miserably. The reason is simple—these competitive exams are based on actual knowledge and skills, where cheating or favoritism does not work. This is why fewer youth from Karak are seen securing top positions in government jobs today compared to the past. The cheating mafia has robbed the region’s hardworking students of their rightful opportunities, allowing undeserving candidates to move ahead simply because they had access to unfair means.
One of the most shameful aspects of this entire system is the involvement of corrupt officials in education boards. When people secure key positions through bribes rather than merit, they prioritize personal financial gains over educational integrity. This is why exam scores are manipulated, and special arrangements are made to ensure certain students secure top positions in exchange for hefty amounts of money. In such a corrupt system, merit and competence hold no value.
This crisis demands immediate and serious action. Examinations must be fully digitized to eliminate cheating. Globally, Computer-Based Testing (CBT) has been successfully implemented, where results are displayed instantly on the computer screen after the test. Pakistan must transition towards computerized and online examinations to curb malpractices. A centralized examination board should be established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces, operating independently without political or financial influence. The recruitment of examination staff should be handled centrally to prevent private institutions from appointing their own people. Invigilators and examiners must be provided security and legal protection so they can carry out their duties without fear. Strict legal action should be taken against private schools involved in promoting cheating, including cancellation of their registration. Parents must also be made aware of the consequences of cheating and its long-term impact on their children’s future. Additionally, the rote learning system should be abolished, and conceptual-based assessments should be introduced to encourage students to rely on their own knowledge and skills.
If we fail to address this issue now, our education system will collapse entirely in the coming years. The world is progressing rapidly, while we are still stuck in a system that promotes fake education through cheating. If we truly want our youth to compete at an international level, we must restore transparency in education.
The time to wake up is now! We must take decisive action against the cheating mafia, remove corrupt officials from educational boards, and modernize examination methods. Only then can we ensure that our children receive an education that empowers them to succeed rather than deceives them with fake success. If we continue to ignore this crisis, the day is not far when our youth will hold degrees but possess zero practical skills, making them unfit to compete in a rapidly advancing world.
