Centres to have CCTVs with voice recorders
The step is a part of efforts to check organised cheating during high school and inter examinations
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Earlier, if a person reading out the answers stayed away from the range of CCTV, it was not possible to detect mass copying. It is this lacuna which we wish to do away with.
A UP BOARD OFFICIAL
ALLAHABAD: After effectively using CCTV cameras in checking the use of unfair means in examination this year, the UP Board has now proposed to include voice recorders in CCTV cameras for the Board examinations from next year.
Confirming the move, UP Board secretary Neena Srivastava said the proposal, which was a part of the Exam Centre Allotment Policy, had been sent to the state government for approval.
“We have proposed for mandatory inclusion of voice recorders in CCTV cameras in examination halls of all the centres,” she said.
Srivastava added that the provision was included after its need was felt after reviewing the measures taken in the Board examinations conducted this year. A UP Board official, who did not wish to be named, said as the government was determined to check the activities of copying mafia, the proposal was expected to get a green signal soon.
“The step is a part of our efforts to check organised cheating during Board examinations. Voice recorders will help us curb the practice of answers being read out for the students which is an organised mass copying technique. Earlier, if a person reading out the answers stays away from the range of CCTV, it was not possible to detect mass copying. It is this lacuna which we wish to do away with,” he added.
Earlier, the UP Board had taken several measures to check copying which included allotment of examination centres through online process, taking help of STF in conducting examination, posting armed police personnel at centres and making only those schools as examination centres which had CCTV cameras in its classes and halls. Over 10 lakh examinees skipped the UP Board 2018-examinations due to strict measures against copying.
However, these steps failed to completely check cheating as allegations were made that at some centres answers were dictated to examinees.
Even as 2018 Board examinations were on, joint director (education) Maya Niranjan dispatched orders for use of voice recorders along with CCTV cameras in centres but most schools failed to implement it.