Mumbai: State govt has directed all public universities to refrain from appointing contract staff in sensitive examination departments as a prime measure to prevent paper leaks and malpractices. The higher and technical education department has also asked universities to fix responsibilities for examination-related work on designated staff, to increase accountability and action in the event of irregularities.
Govt has further decided to adopt recommendations of the Nandan Nilekani-led central task force on exam reforms as soon as its report is released and implement them across all state-level competitive exams, mainly computer-based ones. Among other measures, the use of blockchain technology for security of academically important certificates of students in the state to prevent forgery was also recommended. Directions have been given to formulate policy.
The directives were issued in a meeting of higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil with the vice-chancellors of public universities last week. All universities should issue a notification fixing responsibilities regarding examinations on university officers or permanent employees, directed the minister. “The directive also applies to affiliated colleges,” said an official from the department, citing the Mumbai University final-year BCom paper leak.
In the MU case, a temporary staffer, who was assigned examination duties, was found guilty of serious misconduct and was removed from service.
