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CBSE Question Papers Leak

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March 30, 2018

What is the issue?

  • 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.
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