Copying: Heads to face the rod

Exam cheaters beware. Shridhar Salunke, the divisional chairman, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, warns, that not only will students who cheat during the HSC and SSC exams be dealt with strictly, lax or conniving supervisors and chief conductor of exam centers, where students are caught cheating, will also be punished.u00a0

'After we observed that instances of cheating during exams are on the rise, we decided to take steps to ensure students in private schools do not cheat. We will not only book the culprit caught copying but also the respective supervisor and chief conductor of the exam center as per the provisions of the according to the Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools Regulation Act 1981. Once officials know they will be held responsible for malpractices at exam centers entrusted to their care, they will be more vigilant,' Salunkhe said.u00a0u00a0

Jayesh Patel, vice-principal, KPB Hinduja College, Charni Road, said the board's proposed measures may have to do with an instance of blatant cheating in an Andheri school (see box) last year. 'If exam supervisors and chief conductors are taken on task when instances of malpractice come to light, there will be no cheating anywhere.'

Anamika Bisht (16) HSC student of Bhavans College, Chowpatty, said, 'I think that the boardufffd's strict measures will ensure there are no instances of malpractice during the exams.'

Case study of last year
Sanket, the son of Anjali Patil, principal, Paranjpe Vidyalaya, Andheri (east), had dropped out in class VII on medical grounds. He appeared for the SSC exams in March, last year at the Paranjpe Vidyalaya' his exam center. The examiner complained tou00a0 higher authorities that Aniket was cheating. An enquiry has been instituted into the matter.

When an exam supervisor cheats
The Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools Regulation Act 1981 has the following provisions for punishing erring exam supervisors and chief conductorsu00a0
>>Warning (Reprimand or Censure)
>>And/or withholding of increments for a period not exceeding one year
>>And/or reduction of rank or termination of service.

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