Question paper leak again
PRIMARY terminal examinations, the first gateway for several lakhs of youngsters to make it to the secondary level have made a blemished start, to put it mildly. Successive question paper leakages have actually placed the credibility and quality of exams under a question mark.
We observe to our great surprise the same denial mode as had been experienced with other well-founded allegations of question papers having been out on Facebook or websites ahead of exams. While guardians complain of similarities they have detected between leaked questions and those distributed to students on test dates, the primary and mass education minister first denied and then added that he could not have ignored it. But he argued that neither the DCs nor the officials of primary education directorate or the ministry found anything suggesting leaks have occurred. He also added that versions from various places put the percentages of common questions at 30, 50 and70 -- in that range. So on that basis, how could he have drawn a conclusion? He even suspects that some people may be out to spoil the credibility that the examinations were being held smoothly.
It is this attitude that keeps the government from making a serious probe into repeated incidence of question leaks and devise ways and means to combat the menace. Coupled with a change of mindset, a fool-proof vigil and unforgiving accountability structure needs to be put in place. The immediate imperative is to focus internally, ferret out and punish the guilty and then plug the holes.
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