State board warns students to avoid copying in HSC exams

Students appearing for Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board examinations have been warned by the state board to avoid copying or cheating in examinations. Flying squads have been initiated to keep a check on students, teachers and non-teaching staff involved in the examination process.

Students caught copying in board examinations will have to face serious consequences, claimed state board authorities. Also, students and teachers will not be allowed to use mobile phones at examination centres as per directions from the board. These rules have been initiated as last year, question papers were circulated on social media through pictures taken from mobile phones.

Flying squads comprising of education officials will keep a check at all examination centres for any kind of discrepancies. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) has initiated these flying squads to prevent any malpractices in examination process. A senior official of MSBSHSE, Mumbai division, said, "The flying squads will report to us directly and inform the principals if they find any kind of cheating at examination centres. Apart from students, the flying squads will keep a check on teachers and non-teaching staff."

Teachers claimed students should not jeopardise their future by indulging in copying. Mukta Saini, a teacher said, "Students often get caught for minute mistakes and then have to face serious consequences. Sometimes students also lose an entire academic year when they are caught cheating or helping in copying during examination." HSC board examinations are scheduled to begin from February 21.