State education department officials blame parents for conniving.
“It’s virtually impossible to conduct fair examinations without the cooperation of parents,” said P.K. Shahi, Bihar’s education minister, who said that even a heavy police presence outside schools could not stop mothers and fathers from foul play. Some officers have been attacked for trying to do so by stone-throwing mobs. Copying is rampant during state-run standardized tests, as is cheating via messages on smartphones and offers of bribes from parents. State education authorities cancelled examinations held at four centers after they received reports of large-scale cheating. Sriniwas Tiwari, the Bihar school examination board secretary, said that students caught cheating could be barred from taking the exam for up to three years, ordered to pay a fine or even sent to jail.