MUMBAI: A video of a teacher assessing a bundle of answersheets with a hologram similar to that of the Maharashtra State Board of Education has gone viral among the teaching fraternity.While activists from the Yuva Sena, who shot the video at the restaurant in Vile Parle, claimed that they noticed the word ‘HSC’ mentioned on the front page of the answersheets, official from the Mumbai Divisional Board claimed that the evidence provided is not enough to ascertain their claim. The board rule does not allow teachers to carry the answersheets outside the school premises for assessment.
“The video was shot by one of our members about 15 days ago. But we did not realise it was against the state board’s rules for assessment. It was only after the news of the missing papers (in a Dahisar school) came to light, we decided to study the rule and then submitted the evidence to the state board. We have given them a letter seeking an inquiry. This kind of work is not appreciated as it reduces the seriousness of the evaluation process,” said Pradeep Sawant, a students’ activist from the organisation.
Teachers, however, claim that many schools violate the board rules blatantly to meet the deadline. “Even as the teachers have deadlines to meet for board’s assessment, they are asked to do supervision work, assess answersheets of internal school exams, and declare their results. By that time, the school declares their vacation. These teachers, who are given board examination work, should be let off other obligations,” said Uday Nare, a former board member and a teacher.