Vulnerable exam centres to be under CCTV surveillance

In an effort to curb untoward incidents at or near schools during the Higher Secondary examination, the School Education department has taken up the task of tightening security at all examination centers during the forthcoming examination.

According to sources, meanwhile, the district magistrates and superintendents of police have suggested to keep vulnerable exam centres under CCTV surveillance and make additional police arrangements.

The examination for Science, Arts and Commerce students will started together from March 15.

Extra observers would be posted at every centre and police patrolling would be maintained at every sensitive exam centre.

There would be a 'tracking system' in place to secure the safety of the question paper packets, president of the West Bengal Council for Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) Mahua Das informed.

The Council also gave strict instructions to all schools and asked them to inform the examinees that any act of violence or ransacking of school property will be dealt with utmost severity.

Any loss of property at the exam centre will result in penalisation of the school whose students would be found responsible for the ruckus.

Due to security reasons, the Council refused to share the details of what precautionary measures have been put in place.

However, the administration would make all arrangements to ensure security at the exam centres.

The Council has pin-pointed several centres and examination venues as being 'vulnerable'.

"The list of such centers was sent to the district magistrates and the SPs of respective areas. These schools are located in Malda, North Dinajpur, Birbhum, Bankura and Howrah and at places like Dinhata, Tarakeshwar, Goghat and Arambagh," the sources said.

The venue supervisor would only be allowed to carry the mobile phone. There would be 72 venues where CCTV cameras would be installed.

This year, around eight lakh candidates would sit for the examination. The numbers of girl candidates, it may be noted, is higher than that of boys.

"Strict action would be taken against any offenders. We are ready to conduct the examination," Das added.