Mumbai: In a bid to prevent cheating during the SSC (class 10) and HSC (class 12) examinations this year, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary (MSBSHSE) has taken preventive measures. The students and the entire staff involved in the examination process are strictly prohibited from carrying mobile phones inside premises of schools or colleges. In the last couple of years, major question papers were leaked through social media using mobile phones.
Till last year, students were asked to deposit their mobile phones outside the examination room in their bag or locker rooms. The staff, on the other hand, were prohibited to use phones in the examination room but they could use in their staff room, or any place except where the exams are conducted.
“Paper leaks mostly occurred when the images of the question papers are photographed and sent among students groups through WhatsApp. Hence, this year both the staff and students should be away from any technology while they are in the examination premises,” Subhash Bhorse, in-charge secretary of MSBSHSE said. However, he stated that the chief conductor of the exam would be allowed to use mobile phones for coordination.
Special seminars were conducted by the MSBSHSE officials for all the schools, colleges, teaching and non-teaching staff across Mumbai, Thane and Palghar district to create awareness about the negative impact of using mobile phones in the examination premises.
Another measure for preventing copying is the unsealing of the question paper bundle. “This year, the envelope which has the question papers (per envelope have 25 papers) will be unsealed at the examination classroom at the hour of examination,” Mr Bhorse added. Earlier, the question paper bundles used to be opened and bifurcated at the staff room by the teachers however now the class supervisor will do it in their allotted classroom.
