GUWAHATI, Oct 5 - Amid rumours of a technology rollback by the Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA), the Board has ruled out any major change in the present OMR-ICR technology which had been introduced for ensuring more accuracy and precision in the examination and evaluation system.
The barcode-based evaluation system is preferred for maintaining the confidentiality of the candidates as well as accelerating the result processing, minimising the chances of human error.
SEBA Secretary Kamal Jyoti Gogoi told The Assam Tribune that the technology, with which examinations were conducted last year, would continue this year too. �Barring a few confidential alterations that are necessary for an error-free examination process, no major change would be introduced in the Board exams next year.�
SEBA Chairman D Mahanta also reiterated the Board�s stand. �The Class IX registration forms are already out and follow the same OMR technology. Thus, there are no plans to change the technology,� he said. Meanwhile, filling up of forms for the HSLC Examination 2016 will be completed by November 7.
The optical mark recognition (OMR) mechanism was introduced along with the existing intelligent character recognition (ICR) method in the registration and examination form, even as the use of this latest technology in the post-examination process ensures zero transposition errors while giving marks.
Last year, SEBA conducted a huge training and technology adaptation exercise across the State, incurring sizeable expenses in setting up technical cells and other exam cells in view of the latest reforms. As part of capacity building, a three-step training for teachers, heads of institutions and district academic councils was organised.
However, a section of technical experts associated with the Board have alleged that the SEBA authorities were planning to discard the OMR technology in the post-examination process, that might cut down the efficiency of the entire technical exercise.
�Whereas this technology is being practised by all competitive examinations and education boards of other states, Assam would lag behind in its absence. Board examination results last year were strictly supervised and that might have miffed vested interest groups,� alleged sources.
�The Board received nearly 12,000 re-examination (for verification of marks awarded) applications last year, which was only 6,000 this year. Moreover, it could also trace out all the answerscripts this time, unlike in the previous year,� the sources added.
