Unethical project-making shops in city cause for concern

If you wish to get any projects or important assignments done, but do not have the motivation to do it yourself, don’t stress, because the city has you covered. There are ample shops which do the needful, provided you are ready to shell out a few bucks. While the Central and state governments are trying hard to bring improvement in the education system in the country, there are unethical practices going on in broad daylight through which students can take the easy way out. They just have to pay a few bucks and can get ‘ready-made’ professional-level assignments. All the student has to do is submit the assessment. Alarmingly, these unethical practices are going on openly and nobody, students, teachers or shopkeepers, is bothered about the outcomes of these practice.

These shops are flourishing in almost every part of the city, where orders can be placed to make projects and assignments for various classes. Starting from Class VII to the undergraduate level, students visit a shop, place an order and get the project delivered within two-three days. For this they have to pay anything from Rs 500- 1,500 depending on how much labour has to be put-in for the particular assignment. And during the examinations, these shopkeepers do not get time to make projects due to a mad rush of students, so, they either have to turn customers away or increase the prices manifolds.

These shops are located at places such as Ghumar Mandi, Dandi Swami, College Road, near the PAU Gate No.4, interior part of the city at the books market etc. This practice is not just being carried out by shops, but orders can be placed to individuals directly and they freelance to make projects at home. Shaminder Singh (name changed), a student of Class XII at a reputed school said there was no point wasting time and energy making these projects as the teachers were going to throw these afterwards. “For the viva part, we learn some points from the project and give answers accordingly,” said the student.

A few teachers held school managements responsible for these practices going on unabated in the city. Harmeet Kaur Waraich, Principal, Nankana Sahib Pubic School, said this problem could be sorted out only if schools got the projects made on the campus itself. “We can ask students to make groups, provide them with the material and let them make projects and assignments at the school itself,” said Waraich.

Voicing similar views, Principal Vandana Shahi of BVM School, Dugri, said flipping learning process should take place. “The projects should be made in groups at the school itself, under the supervision of the teacher concerned. And the learning part can be done at home. The experiential learning, which was meant for the students is being done by businessmen. The practice needs to be curbed for the growth of the student,” said Shahi.

Ludhiana