B Ed entrance exam 2020 a benchmark
Uttar Pradesh organises entrance examinations for B Ed every year in which students compete for almost two lakh seats. Conducting the exam this year was a challenge in many ways. The state had received 4.31 lakh applications for the examination originally scheduled on April 8. It was postponed thrice in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and finally held on August 9 with appropriate arrangements.
Last year, the exam was conducted in only 15 districts with 60 to 130 centres in a district. This year, with the twin targets of least movement and ample social distancing, the number of districts was increased to 73. the number of aspirants being allotted a centre was halved to reduce congregation at one centre. Special care was taken to ensure that girls and physically disabled candidates were allotted the district of their first choice, while other candidates were accommodated at or near their place of preference.
In the past, BEd Entrance exams were conducted by the nominated university with the help of other state universities, with negligible role of the department of higher education. This year, the nominated Lucknow University sought the department’s help due to the special circumstances arising out of the pandemic.
Ensuring compliance with the chief minister’s directive to ensure that there was no copying in the exam was the biggest challenge for the department.
To check cheating, it was decided that exam centres be established only in government and government aided institutions. A screening committee was constituted in each district, comprising representatives of district administration and secondary education and higher education departments, in addition to a coordinator from Lucknow University. Their task was to identify potential exam centres in the district, including state and central universities, degree and inter colleges, engineering colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, and even government schools. This was met with resistance from the organising team, which ultimately had to be convinced from high level. The deputy CM and chief secretary then held special video conference with the DMs, and finally we achieved success - 1089 such centres were identified.
The mammoth task of organising the centres, informing the students and mobilising the district administration took place through virtual meetings over the next month. Centres had to be changed in view of new containment zones and floods in a few districts. However, candidates were kept updated through emails and SMSes.
Adequate monetary allocation was made for sanitisation of each centre -- a minimum of Rs 4000, plus additional Rs 20 per candidate if the number surpassed 200 at any centre. Face masks and sanitisers were provided free of cost. LU adopted an innovative method for taking thumb impression of students.
On the day of the exam, static magistrates and flying squads were deployed. CCTV cameras especially installed in each exam centre were continuously monitored through live webcasting at the university’s command centre.
Conducting this exam has been an experience worth sharing. It showcases the sensitivity and caution of state government and sets the trend for upcoming competitive exams during Covid times.