No shoes in examination hall, please

Students appearing for board exams may not be allowed to wear shoes inside exam halls; state believes practice ufffd first implemented in Kolhapur ufffd will curb cheating by pupils who hide chits in socks, shoes

For students attempting the board exams next year, stepping inside the examination hall may be akin to visiting a temple. The state education ministry is mulling over a proposal where students appearing for the boards will be asked to remove their shoes before entering the examination halls. This means they will write their exams barefoot. Invigilators said the most common way students cheated in exams was by hiding chits in their socks or shoes. This method, known as the Kolhapur pattern, was introduced in the three districts of Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur in 2008. While the method proved to be extremely successful and there were few instances of malpractices after these measures were introduced, the pattern also came under a lot of criticism as some of the measures were considered too drastic. The board had published phone numbers of officials in all newspapers and asked anyone having information on cheating during exams or leaking of question papers to inform the board.

Sources at the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) said the proposal to introduce this new pattern was nearly finalised with only the approval of the education ministry pending. "If the approval comes through, then measures will be implemented from January 1," said the source. Ujjwala Patil, chairperson of MSBSHSE did not reply to our queries.

Schools unhappy
Most principals of schools in the city were displeased with the idea of students being made to remove their shoes.

"It is up to the school authorities to be vigilant. Making them remove their shoes and socks would be demeaning and not help much in curbing cheating," said Manisha Sablok, principal, MIT School.

Leena Chaudhari, principal of Symbiosis school was of a similar opinion. "It would create a negative image in the students' minds and disturb them even before exams begin. I thinku00a0 we must create awareness and confidence in students not to cheat during exams," she said.