Hi-tech times: Need to keep students, their supervisors away from phones
Alarmed with the images of the Book-keeping and Accountancy question paper for HSC students going viral, the state examination board is mulling a stringent policy to curb the use of mobile phones by students and invigilators in the examination hall.
Alarmed with the images of the Book-keeping and Accountancy question paper for HSC students going viral, the state examination board is mulling a stringent policy to curb the use of mobile phones by students and invigilators in the examination hall.
The state board rules do not allow students to carry mobile phones to the examination hall.
“It is dangerous for both students and supervisors to carry mobile phones to the exam hall, as it could lead to cheating. Although we have rules to prevent it, they should be stricter,” said Uday Nare, member of the standing committee of the divisional board.
However, most exam centres allow students to carry mobile phones, if they are switched off. “Students carry such expensive phones these days that exam centres do not want to take any chance by asking them keep the phones in their bags outside the classrooms. So, we ask students to switch off the phone and keep it in their pockets,” said Swapna Durve, principal of Mithibai College, Vile Parle.
Not all students follow the rules though. On March 4, an invigilator caught a student using a mobile phone to cheat in the SSC exam at an exam centre in Vile Parle.
Such cases occur as very few colleges frisk students to check if they are carrying mobile phones or not. “We cannot frisk students, as girl students might raise objections,” said Jyoti Thakur, principal, Jai Hind College, Churchgate.
Some centres such as the Hansraj Morarji Public School, Andheri have employed women staff to frisk girl students before entering the exam hall. The centre also does not allow the supervisors to carry mobile phones. “If any supervisor is found using the phone, we take action against them,” said Anjana Prakash, principal of the school.