The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) has called headmaster of Mainaguri Subhashnagar High School in Jalpaiguri for a hearing in the wake of reports that he had allegedly supplied answers to the first boy of the school.
This unprecedented act was a desperate attempt to include his school in the merit list of Madhyamik examination. While allegations of copying in Madhyamik examination surfaces almost every year with occasional fake question triggering leak rumours, this allegation has baffled not only the board but the education fraternity of the state.
Educationists of the state are all the more concerned since the principal, Haridayal Roy, happens to be a recipient of Sikha Ratna, an award instituted by the state government to recognise the services of eminent teachers.
Several teachers of the school had complained to the supervisor that the headmaster constructed an elaborate plan to carry out this “forgery” which included supplying correct answers to the first boy of the school.
The incident came to light when an officer associated with the examination process noticed on mathematics exam day that the question paper set which was supposed to be taken out after 11, was opened 40 minutes before.
The board was informed immediately after which probe began against the headmaster. The board authorities sent representatives to talk to school teachers and severe charges against the headmaster came out in the open thereafter.
A call recording between a board representative and a teacher of the school surfaced where the teacher alleged that the subject teachers were seated in a separate room inside the school every day few hours before the exams and they were asked to write down the answers.
These answers were later forwarded to the first boy of the school via mobile phone. While teachers were not allowed to use mobile phones during the period of the examinatiom, there were no such restrictions imposed on the headmaster.
The headmasters of the school where examinations are arranged also double up as venue supervisor and they are among the few officers allowed to keep their mobile phones with them.
Teachers have also alleged that along with the first boy, Roy also supplied answers to another student of a group D staff of the school. The board has called a hearing on Friday where the principal along with all officials associated with the examination process in that venue will have to be present.
The board president, Kalyanmoy Ganguly, maintained that the board will look into the charges seriously and if charges against him is proven, Roy might have to lose his job.
“We have called a hearing where Roy will have to furnish reason for opening the question set before time and also answer the charges against him. If the allegations are proven than exemplary punishment will be meted out to him,” Ganguly said.
The president has further informed that the examination of the student who had received his help may also be cancelled. The accused teacher, has however, denied all the charges.