Assam Implements Major Policy Change in Board Exam Invigilation System
In a significant policy shift affecting state board examinations, the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) has made a decisive move to exclude private school teachers from invigilation responsibilities during the upcoming Class X and XII state board examinations. This substantial change represents a fundamental restructuring of examination supervision protocols across the northeastern state.
Government Directive Drives Examination Integrity Measures
The board's decision emerged from direct instructions from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who emphasized entrusting examination sanctity maintenance exclusively to government-employed educators. This strategic move aims to address longstanding concerns about examination malpractices that have plagued the system for multiple years.
Nayan Jyoti Sarmah, controller of examinations at ASSEB overseeing Class X board examinations, confirmed the policy implementation. "We have more than 3,000 private schools affiliated to ASSEB, from where students appear in Class X state board examinations. Earlier, teachers from these schools were appointed as invigilators in the Class X state board examination. But this year, they will not be appointed as invigilators," Sarmah stated unequivocally.
Comprehensive Implementation Across Examination Levels
The newly established policy extends beyond Class X examinations to encompass Class XII state board exams as well, creating a uniform approach across secondary education assessment. Typically, the same invigilators monitor both Class X and XII board examinations, making this policy change particularly impactful across the examination ecosystem.
Ranjan Kumar Das, joint secretary at ASSEB, expressed optimism about the policy's potential outcomes. "Hopefully, this policy will reduce malpractices, as government teachers will be answerable to the government," Das remarked, highlighting the accountability mechanism inherent in the new approach.
Addressing the Invigilator Shortage Challenge
With over 40,000 invigilators required for state board examinations scheduled across February and March, the board has developed contingency plans to address potential staffing gaps. All invigilation duties will now be assigned exclusively to teachers from government and provincialised schools.
Sarmah elaborated on the backup strategy, stating, "If the number of invigilators falls short, teachers from primary standard government schools will be appointed as invigilators. The shortfall will be filled by government employees, not private teachers." This approach ensures consistent application of the policy while maintaining examination administration requirements.
Enhanced Accountability and Disciplinary Mechanisms
The policy shift introduces strengthened accountability frameworks for examination supervision. Government-run school teachers now bear collective responsibility for maintaining examination sanctity and integrity, with established disciplinary procedures available for government employees who fail to discharge their duties appropriately.
Officials noted significant challenges in taking action against private school teachers under previous arrangements, as they fall outside government employment structures. This limitation has been effectively addressed through the current policy revision.
Background Context and Examination Scale
The decision follows increased scrutiny of private schools in recent years, with several institutions facing investigation for question paper leaks where private school teachers' roles came under examination. This context informed the board's comprehensive approach to examination security enhancement.
The policy change affects substantial examination participation numbers across Assam. In Class X board examinations, over 4.38 lakh candidates have registered to appear, while Class XII board examinations will see participation from more than 3.30 lakh registered candidates. These significant numbers underscore the policy's wide-reaching implications for educational assessment in the state.
This transformative approach to examination invigilation represents a proactive measure by Assam's education authorities to strengthen assessment integrity, enhance accountability mechanisms, and respond to longstanding concerns about examination malpractices in the state's educational system.
