If one is to take Mr Aslam Raisani, Chief Minister of Balochistan at face value, then indeed a degree is a degree, fake or genuine, and a filled out examination sheet is sufficient without any bother over how it was filled out in the first place. However, the staff of Punjab University seem not to agree with this assumption as they have nabbed two more students on Tuesday solving answer sheets of a BA examination paper at home in connivance with the superintendent of their examination centre. The incident occurred only two days after a female student had been caught red-handed taking an exam of BSc at home with the help of the superintendent of an examination centre of the same university. The superintendent was blacklisted while a case had been registered against the student for using unfair means. But what happened on Tuesday is indeed even more alarming as it reflected the brazen fearlessness of the superintendent and her staff with which they committed a crime of a similar nature after only two days, showing no regard for the responsibility conferred upon them by the university or suffering from any fear of being caught. The involvement of the university’s staff in these two embarrassing episodes of cheating have definitely dented the credibility of one of the oldest and largest public sector universities of the country. Though the university has taken action against the culprits, questions have once again arisen about the overall examination system and process in most educational institutions in Pakistan. One need only look at the plethora of scandals surfacing these days in Sindh province’s matriculation examinations to see how far and deep the rot has spread. The situation needs to be answered with better and more secure arrangements. But how, as it seems too much to ask for from their managements when they belong to a society whose morality seems to have literally hit the lowest of lows. Unhealthy competition stemming from growing materialism has replaced long cherished ethics and moral values to the extent that most of those who still practice these virtues are ridiculed both in private and public. Breaking a law or behaving as if one is above the law is boasted of. What kind of a society we have become poses a serious question. Thirst for knowledge has been reduced to the mere attainment of educational degrees or admission in high profile educational institutions by hook or by crook. The recent expose of 58 ‘failed’ students who, with their political connections, have managed to get admission in prestigious Aitchison College is simply shameful for both students and the college management. Regrettably, where every other day we hear about some politicians facing embarrassment over the exposure of their fake degrees, some of those media exposers are not even fair as many eyebrows rise whenever the issue of their own degrees surfaces. Similar is the plight of other professions where a number of corrupt people have not only been usurping the rights of deserving candidates with their bogus educational records but encouraging the vicious cycle to go on. The situation is appalling as with this corrupt mindset and fast fading morality, this society is bound to face deteriorating standards in all spheres of life, not to mention the distinct possibility of a rapid descent into chaos and turmoil soon. *