SSLC examinations: all rooms don’t have CCTV cameras

While there have been various allegations about mass copying in some of the examination centres where SSLC examination is being conducted, the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) is unable to verify the claims. The reason? Not all the classrooms where the candidates are writing the examinations have CCTV cameras.

The SSLC examinations, which began on March 23, are being conducted in 2,817 centres across the State. All examination centres have CCTV cameras in the room from where the papers will be distributed to classrooms. However, not all classrooms have the same facility.

“Many private schools have CCTV cameras in all the classrooms, but that is not the case in several government schools. However, we hope that by the 2019 SSLC examinations, all the classrooms will have cameras,” an official of the board said.

In his 2018-2019 budget speech, the chief minister had stated that all government primary and high schools would have CCTV cameras, which would be introduced in phases, for the safety of students.

Sudha A., a parent whose child is appearing for the SSLC examinations, said that there was a need for cameras to be installed in all classrooms where children are writing their final exams.

“If there are complaints of copying, then the board can look at the footage and bar candidates. If there is no footage, then heads of examination centres are likely to deny the reports even if there are instances of copying or malpractices,” a parent said.

Officials in the KSEEB also pointed out that there was no live monitoring of CCTV footage, and that heads of examination centres were asked to provide the CCTV footage in a pen drive to the board.