A SHORTCUT
Dharma Wijayanto, GATRA

Cheating is nothing new in the world of education; it is a shortcut to obtain the best results especially during exams.

Ironic is what happened at SDN Gadel 2 Surabaya (2011) when a student named Alifah Ahmad Maulana (13) was forced by a teacher to give his answers to other students during a national exam so that everybody would get good marks. Alifah later reported this incident to his mother, Siami, who found it unacceptable and reported it to the school. Instead of receiving positive response, she was ostracized by other parents and was even expelled from the neighborhood where they lived.

Based on this incident, it is not only permissible to cheat, it is legitimate. It becomes a competition to achieve the highest score and a lot is at stake for all parties concerned which led to cheating becoming a commonplace. Honesty is no longer a priority and is pushed back to the lowest rung of learning process.

Students suggested a variety of reasons as to why they cheat. Most cited the high pressure imposed on them beyond their capabilities and the increasing demand to satisfy their parents, teachers and surroundings.

Various tricks are done, some passed down from generations: twisting lumps of paper and making them as small as possible, hide textbooks in the drawer and under the desk, writing notes on thighs or other possible body parts, making small size copies and optimizing technology such as cell phones.

There is no certain punishment for cheaters. The essence of learning is lost, replaced by the need to fulfill the demands of parents, school and oneself through a shortcut.