An Indian school has forced its students to wear cardboard boxes on their heads during an exam and the images of the incident soon went viral on social media.
The images were taken during a chemistry exam at Bhagat Pre-University College in Haveri of Karnataka state, reports BBC.
The students who were seen bent over their exam papers wore boxes over their heads, with one side cut out, preventing them from peeping at their fellow students’ work.
A junior college administrator has spoken publicly and apologized to district officials for the incident.
MB Satish said he was sorry for trying to use the unusual anti-cheating technique.
Students "thinking inside" the box. Ashamed that a college in #Karnataka #India have compelled students to wear cardboard boxes to prevent cheating. Where are we heading to with education, especially with such practices on assessments in today's 21st century age. #Education pic.twitter.com/dC7Bt0SJMI
— Francis Joseph (@Francis_Joseph) October 19, 2019
The boxes were only used as an experiment, were optional and had the students’ consent, he added.
He also said: "There was no compulsion of any kind. 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 asked them to remove it after an hour."
Regional officials reportedly rushed to the school to complain as soon as they were made aware of the images.
Deputy Director of the local pre-university education board SC Peerjade described the practice as "inhumane".
He told the Times of India "When I got a message about this, I immediately went to the college and ordered the management to stop the practice. “
"I also issued a notice to the college management and am contemplating disciplinary action against them for implementing this idea."
The practice has been ceased and officials are cooperating with the school’s board.