Throwing dust into the eyes of invigilators has been an old habit among many students in this country. Some are compulsive cheats; some become ones of necessity because they whiled away their months or year in non-scholastic pursuits; still others might choose to carry chits, just in case. But the motto is the same: to pass the crucible, and then to come out with as many flying colours as possible. Faced with the prospect of the exams turning into a farce, concerned exam controllers have tried from time to time to devise novel ways to beat the problem. But neither side seems to be the clear winner, so far.

Now, both have gone high-tech. Mobiles have come in handy. The Education Ministry has employed CC cameras this past week, for the first time, to conduct MBBS and BDS entrance tests, where well over 3,000 students were trying their luck. At stake is not only admission into prized disciplines that is expected to pay rich dividends but also a chance to study free. The past had not been without its sporadic quotas of anti-cheating ingenuity. But the main thing is not the latest gadgetry but the same old missing link, willpower. Those at the education ministry should look a little beyond CC cameras and open minds into what has been really happening in the exam halls and behind the scenes to take the education system for a ride. Otherwise, CC cameras would merely provide photo ops or talking points.