With the HS final examinations starting on Wednesday at 772 centres across the State, the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) has made foolproof security arrangements ranging from CCTV cameras, jammers to a full-fledged cyber cell, to conduct the examinations in a smooth manner and to check any sort of malpractice.
While the council has called for promulgation of Section 144 CrPC within a 50-metre radius of all the examination centres, jammers will be used at 23 sensitive centres. This year altogether 2, 34,809 students will take the HS final exams at 772 centres and 20 additional venues across Assam. Of these, 1, 75,175 students belong to the Arts stream, 40,588 are from the Science stream, 18,178 from Commerce stream and 868 students would appear in the Vocational stream.
Addressing the media here today, AHSEC Chairman Dayananda Borgohain said that a cyber cell under a retired police officer of SP rank would centrally monitor the feedback from all examination centres and would be able to locate any cyber malpractice within minutes. All the examination halls and even the confidential rooms of the exam centres would be under CCTV surveillance. “Mobile phones, smart watches, calculators and all sorts of electronic devices are banned inside the examination hall. But even if someone manages to sneak in a mobile phone, or copies of question papers are scanned, uploaded or sent outside, the cell would be able to locate it in minutes. Last year also we nabbed someone who tried to resort to something similar,” he added. Retired police officer Ejaz Hazarika would head the cyber panel. The AHSEC Chairman however urged the media and people in general not to spread rumours of question paper leak once the exam commences.
“Sometimes, old question papers are in circulation in the name of paper leak. Again sometimes the students leaving the examination hall after an hour of exam may also upload the question papers. These cannot be considered as leak,” council’s Secretary Manoranjan Kakati stated.
“A three-layered security arrangement will be in place with 40 observers, 850 supervising officers and respective in-charges of all the centres. The question papers will be properly sealed with a transparent front portion disclosing subject, number of question papers etc., to avoid the possibility of any exchange or goof-up,” Controller of Examination Pankaj Borthakur said. The AHSEC Chairman also stated that the council is gearing up for any changes as per the new education policy. “The draft suggests semester system in the HS level and annually-updated course content.
Accordingly, we are preparing in advance for a smooth transition as and when directed by the government,” he mentioned. The council has also urged the State government to make compulsory the subject Swadesh Adhyayan, which familiarises the students with history and geography of the State.
(Assam Tribune)
