GUWAHATI, Nov 24 � Students appearing for the HSLC Examination in 2015 would write on new security features-enabled answer booklets as part of the Board of Secondary Education, Assam�s (SEBA) new examination reforms to eradicate malpractices and ensure zero-error evaluation and result declaration process.
The Board has come up with an Exam Action Plan 2015 for HSLC/AHM examinations 2015 with seven specific cells under the exam core team that includes an Exam IT cell, which is biometric access controlled.
As the Board plans to declare the results a month ahead of the usual time with introduction of the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) along with the existing Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) technology, latest printing technology, required server and trained manpower has been put in place, for a hassle-free result processing.
Approximately 4.2 lakh students would be appearing in the HSLC and AHM examinations next year.
Other than an increase in the size of answer booklets from 16 to 24 pages, the booklets would have hidden watermarks, temper-proof stickers covering the staples, SEBA logo on each page, and a number of other security features that cannot be duplicated or replicated. Made from a different type of paper with special size (not available in markets), the booklets would be ruled in light shades for students� advantage. The bar-coded personalised OMR sheets would be provided to the students, where every detail including the name, roll number and registration number would be pre-printed.
The security features would be improvised periodically henceforth.
�The idea behind this entire exercise is to ease pressure on the students and reduce the marking and transposition errors with the help of personalised OMR sheets. Both the examination and evaluation processes would remain the same. Students only need to re-check their details printed on the sheets, carefully write the number of their answer booklets on the OMR sheet and sign it. Candidates should not temper with or wet the barcodes,� SEBA Chairman JVN Subramanyam told The Assam Tribune.
Initially, 15 minutes� extra time would be provided to the students to check the details and familiarise themselves with the new set-up.
Under the new technology, marks obtained by the students would be written in numbers as well as marked in the bubbles given in the sheet, reducing chances of error during the scanning process.
Since SEBA has been under the scanner in the recent past for anomalous evaluation and result processing, rectification measures are being introduced for every possible chance of error. The multi-stage reform includes concealing students� identity from evaluators for impartial evaluation.
The format of admit cards has also been improved now. The new admit cards, which can also be downloaded from the SEBA website, would contain the entire examination schedule and name of the centre school.
Things have been eased for the evaluators as well since the ICR cum OMR technology would ensure individual mark foils, from where the marks would be scanned directly, eliminating the role of transposition.
On the other hand, the centres also need not write long �dispatch register� as a triplicate dispatch form with pre-printed roll numbers will be given to all centres for easy processing.
