Taking a cue from the controversy revolving around the Madhyamik question papers going viral, the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has decided to enhance surveillance of exam venues.
The WBCHSE has instructed the centre in-charges/ centre secretaries and venue supervisors for higher secondary exams to instal CCTV cameras at the entry gates and confidential rooms of the centres.
In a notification dated 5 February, the board has asked the centre-in-charges/centre secretaries and supervisors to make arrangements for CCTV surveillance at the entry gates of all the examination venues and room of the venue supervisors. The board has also specifically instructed for preserving the CCTV footage in the custody of venue supervisors till 28 March for producing the same if required.
Citing the reason for such a move, the WBCHSE claimed that the step was taken ‘considering the recent abominable incident occurred in relation to the leak out of question paper of important examinations.’ The board, in its notification, also elaborated that in the prevailing background, the council considered that more strict surveillance was required in all the venues of the upcoming higher secondary exams.
Last Sunday, in another notification, the council had also made the unique serial number mandatory on every question paper for security measures. The board had also made it compulsory for examinees to write the corresponding serial number from their question paper on their answer script. Issuing strict instruction for invigilators, the WBCHSE asked them to put their signatures only after ensuring that the candidates note down the serial number of the allotted question number on the answer scripts.
Notably, the higher secondary exams are scheduled to be held from 16 to 29 February. Like Madhyamik, the timings of the upcoming HS exams also have been revised and are to be held between 9.45am to 1pm.