Mumbai: Runner to track paper movement at exam centres

Representation pic

With board exams set to begin next week, authorities have introduced some new initiatives to tackle paper leak that is said to have become rampant over the past few years. The runner who delivers the question sheets will be accompanied by a police officer and have the additional task of tracking the movement of the papers at examination centres.

The runner will stay at the centre until the end of exam to ensure the bundles of the question papers are opened in classrooms only.

In the past, the seals of the bundles were opened in the office of centre's head. From now on, each bundle will have 25 sheets and teachers will have to distribute the papers after taking students' signature.

Sandeep Sangave, who recently took charge as the secretary of the Mumbai division of Maharashtra State Board, said, "Combating paper leak is one of the major challenges for the Mumbai division. Starting this year, the runners won't be allowed to leave the exam centres after delivering question papers, which used to happen in the past. Their signature will be mandatory now, so that we are assured that the question papers were not opened before reaching the exam hall."

Sangave said that in past cases of paper leaks, it was observed that the question papers bundles were opened before it reached the classroom. "Now we have a person to hold accountable in case there's a leak, which, we feel, will act as deterrence."

Another important practice set to start this year is collection of data in digital format - the number of students registered at a centre, how many of them appeared for the exam and how many last-minute registrations were recorded, and information about cheating. The data will also include the details of visits by flying and sitting squads, and in and out timings of the runner along with his name.

This will ensure there are no mismatches when compared to the details registered with the board, if there is a need for a probe, said the officials.

A total of 3,39,014 candidates are registered to appear for the HSC exam that starts on February 18.

3,39,014
No. of candidates who have registered to appear for the HSC exam that starts on February 18

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates