Question:
You are Vice Principal of a degree college in one of the middle-class towns. Principal has recently retired, and management is looking for his replacement. There are also feelers that the management may promote you as Principal. In the meantime, during annual examination the flying squad which came from the university caught two students red-handed involving in unfair means. A senior lecturer of the college was personally helping these students in this act. This senior lecturer also happens to be close to the management. One of the students was son of a local politician who was responsible in getting college affiliated to the present reputed university. The second student was son of a local businessman who has donated maximum funds for running of the college. You immediately informed the management regarding this unfortunate incident. The management told you to resolve the issue with flying squad at any cost. They further said that such incident will not only tarnish the image of the college but also the politician and businessman are very important personalities for the functioning of the college. You were also given hint that your further promotion to Principal depends on your capability in resolving this issue with flying squad. In the meantime, you were intimated by your administrative officer that certain members of the student union are protesting outside the college gate against the senior lecturer and the students involved in this incident and demanding strict action against defaulters.
a) Discuss the ethical issues involved in the case.
b) Critically examine the options available with you as Vice Principal. What option will you adopt and why? (250 words, 20 marks)
Answer:
Cheating in exam is an act of deceiving self and the system. We go to college to learn. We cheat ourselves when we coast on the efforts and scholarship of someone else.
Many cases of students getting an additional advantage over others have been reported in India like Uttar Pradesh TET exam or Board exams in Bihar. It is not only illegal, buy also highly unethical.
Ethical issues involved in the case
1. Professional integrity versus well-being for the vice-principal
2. Unfair means for moral ends depicts failure of deontological approach (means should be end in itself)
3. Insider’s job of senior faculty helping the two students raises question over his education capability, neutrality during paper checking and objectivity as a teacher.
4. Senior faculty role also brings bad reputation to the college and its achievements.
5. Conflict of interest in senior management outlook towards two students because of their background.
6. Ethical dilemma of truth versus loyalty, created between solving the matter with flying squad and maintaining relationship with the local businessman and politician.
7. Conflict of interest, biasness, and willingness of management to influence the decision-making capacity of the vice principal.
8. It The meritorious students will be discouraged and demotivated for their studies.
9. It gives unfair advantage to the one who cheats, thus leading to injustice.
10. Cheating kills the motivation to work hard. Quality of dedication, perseverance etc. are diluted.
11. Dignity and self-respect are lost.
12. The habit to cheat continues later in life and results in corruption and administrative inefficiency.
13. Cheating not only affects the person but also erode the values structure of society by setting a wrong precedent.
14. Will be detrimental to economy and professionalism as inefficient people will join the work force.
15. People will lose trust in education system and certification (common good will be destroyed)
Options available with the Vice Principal
1. Let the flying squad follow its procedure. Suspend two students and issue show-cause notice to the senior faculty for the time being.
Merits
Encourage students to study and maintain honesty.
Swift action depicts zero tolerance to cheating.
Discourage and deter future events of cheating.
Demerits
Political pressure and lack of funding to college can lead to problems for the whole system.
Reputation of college will be destroyed.
May lose upon the opportunity to become the principal.
2. Take no action against the two students and the senior faculty and try to bribe the flying squad.
Merit
Will be registered in good books of politicians, businessmen and management.
My career and personal well-being will be assured.
Career of two students would be saved.
Demerit
Demotivate hardworking students. Trust and credibility of the college will also be lost.
Increase in protest by student union which may get media attention at later stage.
Crises of conscience for me as I m an honest person. It also shows my lack of intellectual courage.
I will opt for Option 1 because this will uphold the principle of transparency, accountability, and rationale of fair education. It will bring probity in the education system. Yes, some short-term loss will be there in revenue and patronage, but good quality education will compensate it in long term.
Reason for this action
1. Categorical imperative says means must not be compromised for ends.
2. Knowledge without character is futile. (Mahatma Gandhi)
3. Personal integrity is more valuable to my career growth than any single promotion.
4. The more people rationalize cheating, the more it becomes a culture of dishonesty. And that can become a vicious, downward cycle.
Students must be encouraged for the competition based on fair means and practices. Even Our Prime Minister has promoted to opt for challenges rather than comfort.