PANCHTHAR: Three members of a single family have been assigned to monitor ongoing School Leaving Certificates examination at an exam centre in the district allegedly to help two students pass the test.

Pushpa Bhandari is exam superintendent at Phidim-based Phidim Higher Secondary School (PHSS) while his nephew Jiban Bhandari is assistant superintendent. Likewise Pushpa’s brother Devi Bhandari is invigilator at the exam centre.

Pushpa has been accused of making all the arrangements in order to help his twin sons—Ram (0021849 ‘U’) and Laxman (0021885 ‘S’). The twins are attending the SLC examination from Vidya Baradan Boarding School. Pushpa is head teacher of the PHSS while Jiban is teacher.

A teacher at the PHSS said there is no doubt that the examination cannot be fair if students’ family members are assigned to monitor the test. He said this incident has brought proper implementation of the exam code of conduct at the exam centre into question. Pushpa said it was under his jurisdiction to assign assistant exam superintendent and invigilator. He, however, said the exam is being held in a fair manner. He said the District Education Office appointed him as exam superintendent at the centre despite his reluctance.

District Education Officer Gyanmani Nepal claimed the education directive, unlike Public Service Commission and Education Commission exams, does not bar people from working as superintendents/invigilators at exam centre where their relatives are examinees.

source: the kathmandu post,27 march 2014