CBSE wants to leave nothing to chance

Naina Mishra
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 11

Taking lessons from the previous year’s paper leak episode, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) introduced a series of changes in the conduct of examination — from sanitisation of exam centres to handling confidential material — on Monday.

The communication was given to all stakeholders of examinations through a live webcast in around 20,000 schools across the country.

Last year, the leakage of question paper in Delhi and other parts of the country over the social media had caused embarrassment to the CBSE and the MHRD. In 2018-19, a re-examination was conducted for economics after the paper leak. However, this year, the board has stated that “no examination will be postponed at any cost. In case of an emergency, we will supply the material and exam will be conducted, whether it takes one hour or three hours. Regional officers will inform schools about the methodology.” The centres are required to be sanitised on the day of the exam and no communication devices will be allowed.

“A lot of malpractice is happening in schools due to the local management. Hence, on the day of the exam, the entire centre should be sanitised. The unauthorised personnel, including parents, teachers and management, shall be allowed to enter the centre’s premises,” said Anita Karwal, CBSE Chairperson, during the live telecast.

Only 24 candidates in a room

The board has issues guidelines to schools asking them to either prepare a seating plan for not more than 24 students in an examination hall or accommodate number of students in multiple of 24 (48, 72, …) in a hall.

This year, the CBSE has framed guidelines each for ‘centre superintendent’ and ‘unfair means’. It has been conveyed by the board that the principal will not be allowed to delegate powers to the centre superintendent. A deputy centre superintendent is made mandatory for all centres. “Students involved in spreading false information on the social media will also be considered as an unfair mean. The board will keep a track and take an action,” said CBSE spokesperson Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examinations. Carrying an old question paper and communication devices to the centre has also been included in the ‘unfair means’.

Three-layered confidential material

The confidential material will come in three layers — a box, parcel and packet. The packing of the material will be date-wise and subject-wise and the material will be collected on the basis of the datesheet. The Centre Superintendent (CS) will collect the material from the custodian and ensure safe transportation. The board said the CS will carry confidential material in a covered vehicle and ensure safe storage in the control room.

12 days for evaluation 

Chandigarh: In the wake of a large number of mistakes — 4,391 — by the CBSE in the previous year’s evaluation of Class X and XII exams, the board also introduced a revamped evaluation process on Monday. The evaluation team will work under the supervision of the Chief Nodal Superintendent. The team will comprise a Head Examiner (HE), under whom, three to four assistant head examiners (AHE) (evaluation) and one assistant head examiner (coordination) will be appointed. The board has affixed 12 days for evaluation and 25 set of copies to each evaluator in a day. The evaluators will have to work for 8 hours a day. Each AHE (evaluation) will be staffed with four evaluators. Three coordinators will work for the AHE (coordination), who will be assisting the AHE (evaluation). The HE will re-evaluate two copies of each AHE (evaluation) and one copy of each evaluator. Further, the HE will also scrutinise two copies of coordinator checked by the AHE (coordination), along with three copies of each coordinator.

Bell schedule introduced

The board is of the opinion that students may not be allowed to carry a watch and a wall clock must rather be displayed in the examination hall.

• Last entry in examination centre: 10:00 am (long bell)
• Distribution of answer books and question papers: 10:15 am (single bell)
• Commencement of examination: 10:30 am (long bell)
• After one hour: 11:30 am (single bell)
• After two hours: 12:30 pm (single bell)
• After two and a half hour: 1:00 pm (single bell)
• Exam conclude (long bell)

Sec 144 near centres

The board has asked schools to take help from the local administration for regulating traffic and implementing Section 144 near centres. “School principals can meet the District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police of the area to seek support. They can look for problems. We have requested them to impose Section 144 so that there is no rush, traffic on the day of the exam,” said Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examination