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Friday, 30 March 2018

CBSE exam fiasco


The news in Gulf news over the last few days has been depressing to say the very least. Three big stories emerged that have caused grave consternation the world over.

First, there was the Facebook fiasco with leaks galore – surely Mark Zuckerberg and his team of technocrats could have done better.  Now we see prominent individuals closing down their Facebook accounts. Is Facebook bothered at all if they do so, and does it help?

Then comes the Australian saga – excellent cricketers cheating blatantly. Does the crying and the apology exonerate the perpetrators of their dastardly act?  Is it some sort of a pattern? Has it been done before?

Closer home we have the CBSE paper leaks and  re - exams being ordered  in two papers  . If reports in the media are to be believed, the CBSE officials got wind of the leak a few days before the Economics paper for Grade 12 .  Why was the matter not dealt with immediately – was there no one to bell the cat ? Why did they go ahead with the exam in the first place? It would have easier and more appropriate to  postpone it.

Why were pupils made to appear for an exam, knowing fully well that it would have to be redone? These and many more questions are being asked and answers are not forthcoming.

At first, there was denial, then disbelief and then finally admittance. Social media, WhatsApp and ‘some miscreants’ were blamed for spreading rumours ! Then all hell broke loose and the cat was out of the bag .

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar is now looking into the matter and has said that a leak proof system would be put in place for conducting Board exams .( Gulf News 30th March )

 Strange words indeed – was the system for conducting the exam not leak proof earlier? . Were there chinks in the armour ?

So now there is to be a re – exam and that has brought with it umpteen headaches for parents, pupils and schools .

The schools in the gulf are in a quandary. A large number of pupils are travelling. Others have gone to appear for entrance exams in India while others are preparing to do so. Pupils were relieved that the exams were over – they had done well and were happy with the papers – it’s stress all over again now.

Various channels keep giving conflicting reports and that is compounding the confusion . While some say there is a re exam for all candidates, others say there will be no re exam outside India

This is indeed a sad reflection of the education system . In order not to lose credibility ,  the board  must take stringent action when the culprits are booked .  Parents are anxious and angry terming this whole matter as a farce and a joke in poor taste .

Come on CBSE- am sure you can do better

Michael Guzder

050 6568672/ 04 3372117

1 comment:

Asha Perinchery said...

Well said Sir. CBSE's credibility has taken a huge dent. It was so easy to lose it. How long will it take to build that trust for both students and their parents.