Mumbai: Poll duties could delay results, say SSC, HSC teachers

Results for the HSC and SSC exams conducted in September-October could be delayed, with examiners and moderators being assigned election duty for Maharashtra assembly polls.

Results for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams conducted in September-October could be delayed, with examiners and moderators being assigned election duty for the state assembly polls.

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Even though a government resolution dated July 17 exempted the teachers involved in board exam work from election duties, the state Election Commission (EC) has assigned poll duties to the teachers. Protesting this at Azad Maidan on Wednesday, the teachers said that if they are forced into election duty, they will be unable to check exam papers before November 6, and this could defer the results to December.

“We can only start assessment after October 15 once elections are over, but Diwali vacation will begin on October 18. We will resume assessment once we return,” said Anil Deshmukh, secretary of the Maharashtra State Federation of Junior College Teachers. He added that since teachers have been reporting for election duty training, fewer teachers are available for supervision at exam centres. “In some colleges, the entire staff has been assigned duties,” he said.

Teachers have submitted a written letter to chief electoral officer Nitin Gadre, requesting him to exempt the teachers. “The board had written to the EC on September 25 for exempting the teachers, but did not receive any response from them,” said Deshmukh.

Deputy chief electoral officer Anil Valvi said, “We do not have enough manpower to exempt teachers from election duties.”