No funds for printing question papers

DIETs ‘evade’ responsibility, asks complex heads to print question papers from local funds

Srinagar, Feb 19 (KNO): The School Education Department Monday asked the DIET principals of J&K to conduct final examination of 8th standard on the pattern which was used during the COVID times due to non availability of funds with the DIETs—‘giving a room for breach of secrecy and sanctity of the confidential material.’

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) J&K State Council for Educational Research and Trainings (JKSCERT) in a communique to directors of School Education of both regions said that necessary directions to all the CEOs and complex heads shall be issued to print the question papers and other allied necessary materials for 8th standard out of the available printing or local funds lying with the Complex Heads.

The JKSCERT further said that it has decided to conduct the examination for the current session on the analogy of the examinations conducted during the COVID times wherein Complex Heads were provided with Uniform Question Papers in soft format through DIETs via Email and Complex Heads used to print the number of Copies as per the appearing students.

“It is pertinent to mention that most of the DIETs reported non-availability of funds in the pool fund and accordingly the DIEts with sufficient funds were requested to print additional copies of Answer Scripts,” it reads.

Meanwhile, Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in a communique to concerned CEOs of the region said that JKSCERT has issued the Student Assessment and Evaluation Scheme (SA&ES) in 2022 and accordingly the mechanism to conduct examination for classes 1st to 8th as per provisions of NEP 2020 was notified.

“As per scheme the school based assessment (Summative Assessment) for class 8th shall be conducted at Complex Level under the supervision of DIETs and uniform assessment tools shall be provided by SCERT through DIETS,” it reads.

DSEK said that as per communication from JKSCERT, the DIETs were issued instructions to print answer scripts for the conduct of examinations from the Government Press as per the enrollment in their respective districts but due to non availability of funds in the pool fund in some of the districts, the question papers could not be printed.

“However, the DIETs with sufficient funds have been asked to pint additional copies of answer scripts,” DSEK said. DSEK also said that it has decided to conduct the examination for the current session on the analogy of the examinations conducted during the COVID times.

The directorate accordingly requested the CEOs to issue necessary instructions to all complex heads under their jurisdiction to print question papers and other allied necessary materials for the smooth conduct of Class 8th for the session 2023-24 out of the available printing and local funds lying with the complex.

In the meantime, teachers have expressed apprehensions for breach of secrecy of the confidential material.

“Since there is no in-house machinery available inside Complex Heads, they will be forced to print confidential material at nearby printing shops which may compromise the secrecy and sanctity of the examination”, a concerned teacher said.

He further said that the department has reduced the examination to a ‘mockery’. “It would have been better to either not conduct exam at all or ask schools to conduct the exams at their own level.”

Top official of JKSCERT wising anonymity told KNO that the concerned officials and complex heads are the responsible bodies and they will ensure that the sanctity of examination is maintained.

“We will be following the developments closely in this regard and we will try to ensure that there is no breach in confidential materials being provided via emails,” the official said—(KNO)