The CBSE recently announced of re-conducting two of the Board exam papers due to question paper leak.
It calls for changes to exam methodology and immediate measures by CBSE to restore its credibility.
What happened?
The Class 12 Economics and Class 10 Maths examinations question papers were found to be leaked.
Police received two separate complaints in Delhi.
Following complaints, the CBSE announced to re-conduct the exams.
The Delhi Police registered two separate FIRs under IPC Section 420 [cheating] and 406 [criminal breach of trust].
The case has been transferred to the Crime Branch for further investigation.
What is the concern?
The question papers are usually sealed and stored in secret places.
They are released to authorised officials with a window of only a few hours.
In addition, the board has dedicated secrecy officers for each region.
But clearly, the standard operating procedure was easily breached in the present case.
The questions were circulated on instant messaging platforms.
It is evident that the Ministry of Human Resource Development failed to assign top priority to secrecy and integrity of the process.
What is the way forward?
Inquiry - The HRD Ministry should conduct a thorough inquiry to get at the truth and initiate remedial steps without delay.
Authority - The National Testing Agency was cleared by the Union Cabinet last year.
The Centre assured that this would soon be operationalised to prevent a repeat of question papers leaks in public examinations.
NTA was although was originally supposed to take charge of entrance examinations in the first phase.
Testing Methodology - The testing pattern lays too much emphasis on quantitative indicators.
Also, social pressure associated with education makes it more vulnerable to corruption pressures, undermining the very purpose.
There is thus a need for a credible testing method to assess a student’s aptitude and learning.
Multiple assessments, instead of the current one all-important definitive board examination, could be considered.
This can go a long way in reducing the exam stress for the students.
But for now, the CBSE has to restore faith in its processes.
Source: The Hindu
Quick Fact
National Testing Agency
National Testing Agency (NTA) will act as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization.
It would initially conduct those entrance examinations (for higher educational institutions) which are currently being conducted by the CBSE (NEET, JEE, etc).
It will be registered as a society under the Indian Societies Registration Act.
It will be chaired by eminent educationist appointed by the Ministry of HRD.
