Bhubaneswar: Even though the Matriculation examination is embroiled in controversy this year, the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) hopes that the Plus II examinations in the state beginning Thursday will go smoothly.
However, CCTV cameras going missing from a Plus II examination centre in Puri district gives an indication of the Council’s preparations.
As per CHSE data, 3,69,537 students will appear for the annual Plus II examinations this year. Of this, 2,35,183 are from the Arts stream, 99,018 from the Science stream, 27,278 from the Commerce and 8,058 from the Vocational stream. The remaining are ex-regular students.
Apart from the 1,091 centres, 202 Examination Management Hubs (EMHs) have also been set up for the examinations.
Tight security arrangements, including three-tier inspections, are in place for the exams. Observers and special flying squads are all geared up to ensure smooth conduct of the examination.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure to check question papers getting shared on social media, the CHSE has already banned many items from exam centres like smart watches and mobile phones.
CHSE Exam Controller Prabodh Panda said foolproof arrangements have been made for the Plus-II examinations.
“Police security has been heightened at exam centres in Maoist areas. Almost all examination centres have CCTV cameras. Question papers have reached most of the EMHs. Police and district administrations have been requested to provide security,” Panda said.
Panda said the government had also banned a number of items like wrist watches at exam centres. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi at the Secretariat February 28.
School and Mass Education department Secretary Pradipta Mohapatra said, “Frisking has been doubled and no electronic gadgets including wrist watches and phones will be allowed inside examination halls. Wrist watches have been banned as there are some models which can take pictures,” said Mohapatra.
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