Rajbiraj: Rampant irregularities and cheating have been reported in the ongoing district level plus two examinations in Saptari district and Higher Secondary Education Board officials and employees have been accused of direct involvement.

Starting with the selection of examination centers and invigilators during the exams, everything has been manipulated through collusion between board officials and employees, informed a source.

"More than four students are being allowed to sit on one bench during the exams, exam invigilators are openly providing answer chits to the students, and most of the time during exams these invigilators are found elsewhere," said the source.

A similar scene was observed during Tuesday´s exams at various centers of Rajbiraj, headquarters of the district. A policeman deployed to guard the entrance of Raj Devi Secondary School said, "While everyone is allowed to enter the exam hall during the tests, media persons have to receive a permit from the head of the centre. There is a commotion of people getting in and out of the classes during exams hours," said the policeman.

Students are easily provided chits and extra tips by the invigilators, said the source. "The guards on duty are paid to keep mum. This is the main reason we rarely hear about such irregularities," added the source.

Meanwhile, both the chief district officer and district education officer of Saptari admitted irregularities were taking place in the ongoing exams. "All this open cheating is happening due to the lack of seriousness and security during the exams and the responsibility lies with the higher secondary board. If such irregularities are not controlled soon, the quality of education will plummet sharply in the district," said Acting Chief District Officer Bal Bhadra Gari.

However, the chiefs of the exam centers said they were doing their jobs honestly. "We are trying our best to control all the irregularities during exams and we are succeeding gradually," said Mina Thakur, chief of the exam center at Pawi Higher Secondary School.

This year the board has allocated 19 external inviligators for 12 examination centers in the district.

source: republica,8 may 2013