Mumbai: A workshop held by the officials in suburban Mumbai to instruct schools and junior colleges about the conduct of SSC and HSC board exams has puzzled a few principals. Not allowing trustees and management officials in the exam centre premises and barring phones at the entrance of the exam centres were some of the instructions. Some of them, such as sealing the xerox machines inside the institute premises during examinations and allowing cellphones only to the chief and deputy conductors, though already existed, are being strictly imposed now.
While smartwatches were never permitted in the exam premises, this year colleges have been asked to be extra cautious about them and other gadgets. Some of the principals, who are vigilant about the examination process, are miffed with a few directives.
While copy-mukt abhiyaan was implemented even last year, the inclusion of the drive in the chief minister’s 100-day plan for the school education department has kept officials and schools and colleges on their toes alike. A department official said that there are centres where the trustees and management representatives walk into the exam block. “It also distracts the students writing the exams. We do not want to create any inconvenience to the students. We have also informed the sitting squads to not enter the exam blocks,” said the official, adding that if they want to ensure zero copying cases, then strict measures will have to be implemented.
A principal, however, said that many junior colleges are attached to degree colleges, and though degree lectures are suspended during board exams to avoid overcrowding, the college office functions as usual. “Some of the instructions are very stringent. We cannot tell our trustees to not enter the premises. Xerox machines in the vicinity were always shut down by the police, but this year the board is also emphasising sealing all the xerox machines on the college premises,” said the principal.
Another principal said that there are thousands of students entering the college premises, and it will be difficult for their security staff to check everyone for their mobile phones. A department official, however, said that mobile phones will be allowed inside the premises but not in the exam blocks. Students will have to leave them outside, he said, adding that the invigilators have been asked to check for smartwatches and ear pods too. “In some rural areas, the district officials even ask students to remove their footwear outside,” he said.
A degree college principal said that the department and the board seem to be on an overdrive this year. “They came up with a bizarre policy of asking institutions to get exam staff from other schools and colleges in the vicinity. I have trained my staff well. How can I trust an outsider?” asked the principal. Thankfully, the board withdrew the circular after facing massive opposition from teachers and college officials, added the principal.
Mumbai: A workshop held by the officials in suburban Mumbai to instruct schools and junior colleges about the conduct of SSC and HSC board exams has puzzled a few principals. Not allowing trustees and management officials in the exam centre premises and barring phones at the entrance of the exam centres were some of the instructions. Some of them, such as sealing the xerox machines inside the institute premises during examinations and allowing cellphones only to the chief and deputy conductors, though already existed, are being strictly imposed now.
While smartwatches were never permitted in the exam premises, this year colleges have been asked to be extra cautious about them and other gadgets. Some of the principals, who are vigilant about the examination process, are miffed with a few directives.
While copy-mukt abhiyaan was implemented even last year, the inclusion of the drive in the chief minister’s 100-day plan for the school education department has kept officials and schools and colleges on their toes alike. A department official said that there are centres where the trustees and management representatives walk into the exam block. “It also distracts the students writing the exams. We do not want to create any inconvenience to the students. We have also informed the sitting squads to not enter the exam blocks,” said the official, adding that if they want to ensure zero copying cases, then strict measures will have to be implemented.
A principal, however, said that many junior colleges are attached to degree colleges, and though degree lectures are suspended during board exams to avoid overcrowding, the college office functions as usual. “Some of the instructions are very stringent. We cannot tell our trustees to not enter the premises. Xerox machines in the vicinity were always shut down by the police, but this year the board is also emphasising sealing all the xerox machines on the college premises,” said the principal.
Another principal said that there are thousands of students entering the college premises, and it will be difficult for their security staff to check everyone for their mobile phones. A department official, however, said that mobile phones will be allowed inside the premises but not in the exam blocks. Students will have to leave them outside, he said, adding that the invigilators have been asked to check for smartwatches and ear pods too. “In some rural areas, the district officials even ask students to remove their footwear outside,” he said.
A degree college principal said that the department and the board seem to be on an overdrive this year. “They came up with a bizarre policy of asking institutions to get exam staff from other schools and colleges in the vicinity. I have trained my staff well. How can I trust an outsider?” asked the principal. Thankfully, the board withdrew the circular after facing massive opposition from teachers and college officials, added the principal.