Education dept to cancel affiliation of 6 private schools in Tarn Taran
It is alleged that money is being taken to pass students under Open School Scheme
The secretary himself conducted a surprise check at schools’ centres during the English exam of Class 12 on Wednesday. He found that the schools had been violating affiliations norms by allowing mass copying.
A PSEB SPOKESPERSON
TARN TARAN (AMRITSAR) : Three days after the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) ordered re-examination in eight Tarn Taran schools after an invigilation team detected mass copying during a Class 12 examination, the state education department has started the process to cancel affiliation of six schools in the district.
The process was started after the department unearthed a racket in which money was allegedly being taken to pass students under the Open School Scheme.
The schools that may face the music are — United Senior Secondary School, Khemkaran; Gurukul Public School, Khemkaran; Hari Singh Nalua Public School, Poonian; Santh Sipahi Public School, Thatha; Shaheed Bhagat Singh School, Valtoha; and Sri Bala Ji Senior Secondary School, Khemkaran.
On the order of school education secretary Krishan Kumar, the department has sent showcause notices to the schools. Patti sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Surinder Singh has seized records of the schools.
“The secretary conducted a check in the examination centres during the English exam of Class 12 on Wednesday and detected mass copying,” a PSEB spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the secretary also found that the schools had been running a racket and allowing students from other districts to appear in the exams in exchange of money and promising that they will be passed with good marks.
He said the board had already cancelled affiliation of Dashmesh Senior Secondary School, Valtoha. “The other six schools are also on the radar as the board had shot show-cause notices to them,” said Hargun Kaur, secretary of board.
It has been learnt that hundreds of students from different districts of the state have been appearing for the examination of Class 10 and 12 and are living in gurdwaras. A student from Amritsar, Kuldeep Singh, said: “I had given ₹45,000 to Parminder Singh who had assured me to get me passed with good marks.” Jugraj Singh from Malerkotla said: “I have given ₹47,000 to Sukhjit Singh, who promised me to get my exam cleared with good marks.”
Tarn Taran deputy commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal said an inquiry has already been marked to the Patti SDM.
“There are 103 examination centres of which 30 are highly sensitive. Polcie have been deployed outside these centres. Senior police and administration officials have been instructed to make surprise visits in all examination centres,” Sabharwal said.
10 CENTRES CHANGED
District education officer (DEO), secondary education, Nirmal Singh issued a circular on Friday to change 10 examination centres of Classes 10 and 12, after getting complaints of mass copying.
He said Kacha Pakka, Khemkaran-1, Khemkaran-8, Khemkaran-3, Valtoha-6, Valtoha-11, Khemkaran-5, Mastgarh-1, Thatha-5 and Thatha-6 were the centres that have been changed.
The new centres are SGAD Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Noordi Road, Majha College for Women, Govt Senior Secondary School, Pandoori Gola, Govt Girls Senior Secondary School, Aladinpur, Sant Singh Sukha Singh Modern High School, Govt Senior Secondary School (boys, Mandi Wala), SD Girls Senior Secondary School, near Char Khamba, Kalgidhar Public High School in Kakka Kandiala village, Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Sarhali Kalan, and Khalsa College, Sarhali Kalan.