Mobile answer sheets: Board makes its own preparations for exams

Higher Secondary School Certificate papers commence from May 7.

RAWALPINDI:

Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) in a bid to avoid the wrongs committed during the recently concluded annual Secondary School Examinations, has taken extraordinary precautionary measures for the Higher Secondary School Certificate examinations commencing from May 7.

“Extra vigilance and inspection will be carried out during the higher secondary school examinations (HSSC)”, said Dr Muhammad Ashraf, the acting chairman of the BISE said Thursday.

All out efforts were being made to ensure the collection of solved answer sheets from the examination centres on the day of exams. In this regard, the concerned banks have been informed about the new measures, the
chairman said.

It was on March 27, when Rawat police intercepted a car carrying over 500 answer sheets of different subjects of SSC exams and arrested a man who said he was going to solve them against Rs10,000 for each paper.

The revelation of the theft of solved answer sheets led to the removal of the board chairman, suspension of the controller examination and six other officials. The papers were taken away from a bank and its security personnel were arrested by police.

“We have hired more vehicles and deputed more staff to collected answer sheets from far off examination centres of Jehlum, Chakwal, Attock and Rawalpindi and bring the papers to the branch of the board in Rawalpindi,” Dr Ashraf said.

There will be five different kinds of inspection teams to keep an eye on the examination that will conclude on May 23. The teams will include special inspection team appointed by Punjab Government and BISE chairman’s “special three-member squad” which will conduct surprise visits in every district.

Moreover, 46 inspectors will carry out routine checks and all the district executive officers for schools and deputy directors for colleges will be authorised to check any examination centre. Any official of the board with the permission of chairman can also check the centres, said Dr Ashraf.

Out of a total of 179 examination centres for 63,616 candidates for HSSC-II examinations, 46 have been declared sensitive and the board authorities have informed the police and district administrations about them.

Regarding the on going investigation about the seven suspended officials of the board, the acting chairman said they had become a party to the case. Criminal proceedings have been recommended against the officials, he said.

Dr Ashraf added disciplinary action would be taken against them after the conclusion of the departmental inquiry.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2011.