Bhubaneswar: More than 5,87,720 students will appear for the annual High School Certificate (HSC) examinations at 2953 centres from today. The question papers that has been sent to the district nodal centres by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), will be dispatched to the examination centres in the morning amid tight security.
While a statewide shutdown was observed Thursday by Nabanirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS), in spite of the Government’s request to revoke the bandh call keeping the important examination in mind. NKS convener Akshay Kumar had assured examinees and their guardians will not face any difficulties due to the strike. School and Mass Education Secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra also said, “The bandh had no impact on dispatch of Matriculation question papers.” The members of NKS Thursday ensured smooth passage of school students and school buses.
HSC examination will commence from February 22 and end March 8. Mohapatra added, “The question papers are currently at the nodal centre. On the day of the examination, question papers will be taken from nodal centre to examination centres between 6 am and 8:30 am. Director General of Police ensured that necessary security arrangements will be made accordingly. Even district collectors and SPs have been directed to take necessary steps in this regard.”
BSE’s Controller of Examination, Nihar Ranjan Mohanty said, “One police personnel will accompany the dispatch team to the exam centres. Security personnel will also be deployed at examination centers from 6 am to 1 pm.”
“Section 144 will be imposed at sensitive and highly-sensitive centers. CCTV cameras have been installed on a priority basis in these centers and open school certificate centre. Arrangements for 24×7 security have been made at all nodal centres,” Mohanty added.
Briefing on the security arrangements, Mohanty said, “Under District Education Officers, 58 flying squads have been constituted. 44 special squads will also be sent from central office in Cuttack to different districts. Collectors of each district have also formed squads that will be deployed for supervision.”
Mohanty had a piece of advice for the students appearing for HSC, “This examination is not the end of your life. Since this the first important exam they sit for, the examinees should do so without any kind of pressure.”
The evaluation of the answer sheets will be held at 60 centres in the state from March 25 to April 7.
For many students the Matric exam is the first of all the important examinations they ever take. Sujit Patnaik a class X student of Capital High School said, “Every exam is crucial for the students but Matric exams decide the future course of action based on the results. I am ready to take on the challenge.”
Radhakanta Mohanty, another student of Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir said, “I feel that I am prepared for the examination. I am hopeful that I will score well in Odia, Science and SST papers.”