SAS NAGAR: Despite reports of mass copying in ongoing exams of Classes VIII and XII, being conducted by the Punjab School Education Board, only 100-odd cases of unfair means have been registered so far. Exams for Classes VIII and XII have been cancelled at nine centres.
In 2009, more than 550 unfair means cases (UMCs) were registered and exams for Classes VIII, X and XII cancelled at 75 centres.
Nearly 14 lakh students take the board exams for the three classes every year. Class X exams are scheduled to begin on March 16.
“We have constituted more flying squads compared to last year,” Board Chairman Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon said.
“Computerized answers sheets have been introduced. All these measures are aimed at checking unfair means during exams. Moreover, we are taking strict action whenever any such incident is-reported;’ he added.
As in previous years, a large number of copying cases have been reported from the districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur.
The board recently received several complaints from schools – designated centres for board examinations – about shortage of staff on exam duty and improper distribution of staff at various centres.
Om Prakash Singh, Deputy Secretary of the board’s Conduct Branch, admitted that there was inadequate staff at some exam centres.
“It is difficult to curb copying in the state as this practice has been going on for the past several decades. The entire education system is to be blamed for the menace,” he said. On March 4, a district education officer was thrashed at Valtoha village in Tarn Taran district when she tried to stop copying at a government school during the Class VIII English exam. Relatives and friends of examinees had gathered outside examination centres and many were seen trying to enter the centres or sending chits inside.
SOURCE-HT
