Principals taught to handle paper leaks

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary (MSBSHSE) last week conducted a meeting with all principals and teachers where it gave instructions with regard to cheating and the possibility of paper leaks before and during the examinations.

Last year, a principal of a Mumbra-based school was arrested after being involved in leaking a paper to Class 10 students. “We have asked all the principals to only let trustworthy people inside the room where question papers are unsealed, segregated and prepared for distribution. There will be a mandatory background verification process of all personnel who are allowed in this room in both schools and junior colleges,” an MSBSHSE official said.

During this meeting, the board has asked the teachers to make the students aware of the consequences of being caught while copying or cheating. “Since last year, we have been trying to make the students thorough about what can happen to them if they copy or even think about it. This is creating fear in the minds of students for their own good,” a principal of a Dombivali-based school said.

Sulekha Chatterjee, a homemaker feel students are prone to copying or cheating when they are nervous. “This can be avoided if teachers talk to students on a daily basis,” said Ms Chatterjee whose daughter will be taking the HSC exam this year.