Odisha govt in quandary over e-evaluation of +2 science exams

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 11:

With the Uchha Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UMSP), Odisha and principals of colleges affiliated to it having made known in no uncertain terms their opposition to e evaluation of the Plus Two science examination, the Higher Education department is in a quandary.

While the minister, the secretary and other senior officials want the e-evaluation to start from this year, the principals of colleges and the controller pf examinations of the Council of Higher Secondary Examination (CHSE) have expressed their inability to do it on the grounds of lack of adequate training and thorough knowledge of the process. They don’t wish to be held responsible should anything go wrong in the e-evaluation.

Deaprtment officials, including the secretary, are trying to persuade the principals and officials of UMSP to agree to the idea and have called for a meeting on Friday to discuss the matter further.

Gagan Dhal, the Secretary of Higher Education Department met the Chairman of UMSP and Examination Controller yesterday to review preparedness for the examination.

While the practical examinations are alaready over, the theory examinations are yet to be held. A lot of ground wrok remains to be done to ensure printing of question papers and sending them to hubs, setting of answer sheets, preparing the squad lists etc.

The authorities of the CHSE don’t wish to take any chances on e-evaluation at this juncture. More so, after the blunders in evaluation last year that caused a huge uproar in the state.  The authorities have briefed the secretary regarding the situation.

The Secretary, however, has pushed the matter to the meeting scheduled to be held on February 13, where issues such as scanning of answer sheets, location of scanning machines, ability to scan the papers and to keep them safely and secretly, ability to ensure continuous power supply to computers for e-evaluation and computer friendliness of lecturers and principals will be discussed.

The final proposal will be submitted to the Minister of Higher Education Department for approval, official sources said.