Bhubaneswar: In a relief to students of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam which begins Tuesday, Odisha Secondary School Teachers’ Association (OSSTA) decided to cooperate in the conduct of the examinations.
OSSTA secretary Ranjan Dash, after a discussion with department officials, informed that they will not play with students’ future and will cooperate in the conduct of exams but they will silently and symbolically continue their protest.
Earlier, OSSTA staged a sit-in protest at the Lower PMG here, Monday, causing tension among students and their parents. The teachers sat on a dharna to press for the execution of their three ‘legitimate’ demands, which include full grants to 194-category schools, 7th pay scale payment, and execution of old pension.
Over 5 lakh students are scheduled to appear in the matriculation (Class X) examination in the state. The examination is being conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha. BSE officials informed all the preparations have been completed for the matriculation examination.
The evaluation process will begin from March 16 and the entire process is likely to be completed by March 30. For the first time, AI-based CCTV cameras have been installed in highly sensitive centres to improve and reform the conduct of the examination.
The board has advised the students to reach the examination centre one and half hour before the examination timing. While the exams begin at 9 am, the students will enter the examination hall at 7:30 am, and at 8:15am, the gate of the examination centre will be closed. OMR sheets will be given at 8:30 am and question papers will be given at 9 am, informed the board authorities.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP