Faridabad, September 19
A realisation is beginning to dawn on the Haryana State Education Board (HSEB) that the biggest cause of the `falling’ education standards in the state lies within the Education Department itself.
The Secretary of the HSEB, Mr Rakesh Gupta, who took over the post a couple of months ago, is emphatic that there could be a sea-change in the Board examination system and in the attitude towards secondary-level education in Haryana by April next year, if the reform process taken up by the new managers of the Board continued.
Interacting with media, here, Mr Gupta admitted that the menace of copying had not only marred the image of the board, but the exams itself had become a matter of ridicule. He revealed that the reform process in the recent months had highlighted the ‘dubious’ role played by a section of the Board employees and the district education officers (DEO) in connivance with the teaching and non-teaching staff.
Mr Gupta is perhaps the first secretary of the Education Board to admit that the menace of copying has been abetted by the Board staff, DEOs and the schools, especially private ones. He is also the secretary to admit that the choice of a centre, appointment of examiners, invigilators and superintendents is often determined by this unholy nexus.
However, the `nexus’ had been finally crushed and several radical steps have been taken to improve the working of the Board itself, so that transparency can be ensured. Breaking away from tradition, the Board had adopted a tough stand vis-a-vis students who are accused of copying, so that they do not go scot-free.
Disclosing that more than 400 unfair means had been booked in the first four days of supplementary exams so far, he said there was no outside interference at any centre in the district or in the state. In fact, 83 cases of copying were booked on Thursday.
He said the number of cases booked in the supplementary exams on any given day would be more than the number of cases booked in Board exams in March this year. Besides creating a mass awareness about evils of copying, the Board had decided to act tough against non-serious students, who think copying is easy. He said the Board authorities may suspend or chargesheet the supervisor itself, if a flying squad found copying material with four or more candidates in a room. He disclosed that the authorities had sought action against five teachers already. He said the Board would try to create an healthy examination atmosphere and make the students believe in the ethic of hard work.
Mr Gupta blamed most District Education Officers and the majority of private schools for the menace of copying and the overall degeneration of the Board exams in the state. He said, from now onwards, no DEO would be able to appoint or change the centre Superintendent and the Board would be the final authority in this connection.
Admitting that corruption, nepotism and inefficiency had crept in the Board and the DEO offices, he said action was being taken against erring staff. The transfer of about 176 employees in the Board office and action against a DEO were the steps in this direction. The Board Secretary also pointed out large-scale irregularities by private schools. He said these schools would send bogus admission forms at the last moment (with late fee) and provide full support to students in copying.
The identification of such school was on and blacklisting of such institutions could mean de-recognition and scrapping of their registration by the Board.
He said at least 50 per cent of the private schools affiliated or recognised by the Board had been involved in fraudulent practices. The results of the ongoing reforms will be visible in March-April next year. Besides being strict with the staff and students during exams, the board had issued a high tech photo printed admit card to each examinee.
