Patna: The hapless education minister P.K. Shahi raised many eyebrows when he said that with 14 lakh students appearing for exams each year it was tough for the government to stop the malpractices until and unless parents and students cooperate.

“We are taking every important measure to curb cheating in the board examination. Holding a free and fair examination is tough for the government. Parents need to cooperate with us,” he said.

Cheating in the ongoing state Board exams has scaled new heights as visuals of large-scale copying by students emerged where parents and helpers were seen scaling three to four storey exam centres to pass on chits to their wards. As many as 515 students have been caught and expelled in two days.