THE use of micro-photocopies of class notes, initially meant to assist students in the learning process, has changed with time, and they are now being widely abused for cheating purposes. This practice is particularly prevalent at the University of Balochistan. These materials are readily available at stationery shops within the university, enabling the students to exploit them to push their scores without genuine effort. It is concerning that such unethical practices face little to no disciplinary action.

I have frequently observed students skipping classes during the semester, yet using the micro-copies openly during exams, sometimes even in front of their teachers.

Such actions reflect the apathy within the system, and the lack of strict enfor-cement of academic integrity. The current academic culture at the University of Balochistan paints a dismal picture of higher education, raising serious concerns about its ability to produce capable professionals, researchers and scholars.

All the relevant stakeholders need to take immediate steps to curb this damaging trend. The unchecked use of micro-materials must be addressed with sincerity and strict penalties to deter such practices.

Shah Khalid Baloch
Quetta

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2025