Madhyamik 2019 kicks off amid allegations of paper leak
The question paper was found doing rounds on WhatsApp and social networking sites
Kolkata: The first day of Madhyamik examination was marked by allegations of question paper leak as the paper was found doing rounds on WhatsApp and other social networking sites, just half-an-hour after the commencement of the examination.
State Education minister Partha Chatterjee has sought a report in this regard from the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), which is responsible for conducting the examination across the state. WBBSE President Kalyanmoy Ganguly informed that a formal complaint has been lodged with the Cyber Crime Police Station of Bidhannagar City Police but ruled out chances of any re-examination.
The Board has decided to strengthen the directives regarding the use of mobile phone and maintain a stricter vigil on the use of phones in the examination hall. It has been learnt that the question paper had also reached the phone of Deputy Secretary (Examination) at around 1.30 pm.
Meanwhile, state Food and Supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick played his part to ensure that three Madhyamik examinees reach their examination venue on time.
An auto-rickshaw with three students onboard had hit Mallick's car near PNB Island in Salt Lake when he was travelling to his office. The minister came down from his car that was slightly damaged and himself took the three examinees, who luckily did not suffer injuries, to their venue at Laban Hrad Vidyapith.
His security made arrangements for treatment of the guardian of one of the students who suffered injuries in the accident. "My priority was to ensure that they reach the examination hall in time, as Madhyamik is a very important examination for their careers," Mallick said.
It may be mentioned that WBBSE had announced a series of security measures to prevent leakage of question papers. Teachers assigned to the duty of invigilators were stipulated to hand over their mobile phones 30 minutes before the start of examination to the venue in-charge, who will be a government official. Students are already barred from carrying phones inside the examination hall.
The Board president made it clear that only some officers involved in the examination are allowed to use cell phones in the exam centres, including the centre officer in-charge, centre secretary, venue supervisor, venue in-charge and additional venue supervisor.
Sources in the Board indicated that the papers may have been circulated from districts like West Burdwan and Nadia. The Board has already started an internal probe into the matter.
