Following the question paper leak of the Class IX board exams for the subjects Social Studies and English, Human Resource and Development Department has filed a FIR at the Sadar Police Station, Gangtok against unknown persons on 23rd November, 2010.

While addressing a press conference, Secretary HRDD, Mr R Telang informed about the lodging of the FIR by the department. Exams for the two subjects have already been postponed. The same will now be held on 29th and 30th November, 2010. He also said that the decision of postponing the exam was taken after the department compared the question paper that was circulating in the market and the original, and found the both to be same.

He further added that if the same has happened with the other papers, then the department will cancel the whole exam and re- conduct it. It was also clarified that HRDD did not send the question in CD to any of the schools; it was done for the class VIII questions, the question paper for class IX exams were printed at the Sikkim Government Press. It was further added that the questions were dispatched to various schools only three days before the scheduled date.

Accepting the gravity of the issue, he said that the Police has already been asked to investigate on this and in future the department will see to it that such incidents are not repeated. It was also mentioned that the department had been trying to find out the truth on the matter since a few days back when a few newspapers had carried this news, but there was no proof at that time.

Similarly Director, HRDD, Mr CS Rao, said that they have also changed the question paper of class eight, even though it is not a board exam but to be doubly sure the department has taken this decision. Now the question paper for both class VIII and IX have been changed.

However the news was not received very well by the affected students as they felt that the department was totally at fault. Many of the students also went to meet the Secretary himself and said that they will not sit for re- examination. The students had had to return from their school after being informed by the teachers about the question paper leak. Some students are feeling that the department is taking their feeling for granted, and expressed their opinion that the department should take the full responsibility for the blunder.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, Sikkim General Secretary has demanded that the Minister, HRDD Mr NK Pradhan and the Secretary Mr R Telang should take the responsibility for this huge mistake and should resign from their posts. No one has any right to manipulate the future of the children who are also the future of tomorrow, and as the department has failed to understand this they no more have the right to occupy such a responsible post.

Similarly President, All Sikkim Educated Self employed and Unemployed Association Mr Nawin Kiran Pradhan has also demanded that these officials from HRDD should resign from their posts, adding that the State Government is always harping about quality education and this is what the people get from the implementing department concluded Mr Pradhan.

Courtesy: Sikkim Mail

 

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