Odisha +2 exams: CHSE in a fix over shortage of exam centres

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 14:

With over 75,000 students scheduled to appear in the annual Plus Two examinations in Odisha beginning from March 2 next year, the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) is now in a fix over the acute shortage of examination centres to accommodate these students.

The Council is also finding it difficult to conduct the examinations in two sittings, a senior CHSE official said.

The official said about 3.25 lakh students had appeared in the +2 examinations in 1072 centres managed through 205 hubs last year.

However, over four lakh students have filled up forms for the ensuing annual examination of which over 10, 000 students belong to ex-Regular courses while about 50,000 students belong to self-finance courses.

The problem has arisen due to tagging of self-financing colleges to other colleges. The authorities of some colleges have refused to allow tagging of these colleges, which they said, had put additional pressure on them.

Besides, several government, aided and unaided college authorities, fearing scrapping of their examination centres due to possible malpractices, have refused to allow tagging of self financing colleges to them.

In case these self-financing colleges are tagged, the number of examination centres would go up substantially. On the other hand, conducting examinations in the existing centres would be extremely difficult for the Council as well as the concerned college authorities, the official pointed out.

“While the government has been giving permission for opening of self-financing colleges in the state, it has not thought of the problem being faced by the students while appearing in the examination”, he added.

It may be mentioned that the fact-finding committe on the bunglings in the +2 exams last year, in its interim report to the state government, had suggested that the number of hubs and examination centres be reduced to limit the possibility of rigging.

While the government has set up the criteria to declare a college as the examination centre, it would be difficult for the Council to accommodate such a large number of students in the existing centres in the forthcoming examinations.

On the other hand, with more students taking admission in the self-financing courses every year, it has become increasingly difficult for the Council to conduct the examination, the official noted.