‘Punjab Government advertisement’ on question paper raises eyebrows

Tribune News Service

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Patiala, September 13

“The government is using exams as an advertising tool,” alleged teachers here today. Teachers of government schools attacked the Punjab Government for using school exams for their political gains through a “government advertisement” in a question paper.

Citing an instance, the teachers alleged that the government smartly highlighted the increase in social security pension from Rs750 to Rs1,500 in the Punjabi exam of Class V that was held today.

The Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) said the Education Department had been using the exam as a “PR tool” ahead of the Assembly elections.

Vikram Dev, president, DTF, said the government had stooped to a new low by using question papers as a platform for their political advertisements. He said: “This is shameful. We strongly condemn this. They deliberately have chosen government ad, which has been widely used across the state.”

Dev said over two lakh students took the examination today, and they took the question paper home while answer sheets (OMR) were submitted at the centre.

The teachers said the Education Department had played tricks and directed the teachers, students and parents to like, comment and share the posts which were uploaded by the department on Facebook.

Meanwhile, Harinder Kaur, District Education Officer, said: “The questions are prepared by the state Education Department. Therefore, I am not in a position to comment.”