PSEB students get Punjabi paper on social studies exam day

Thousands of Class-8 students in half of the state were in for a shock after they received Punjabi question papers instead of the scheduled exam of social studies on Thursday afternoon.

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) that conducts the evaluation exam for Class 8 claims the goof up happened at the end of the private firm which prints the question papers.

The ‘mistake’ of packing Punjabi question papers (this exam is scheduled on March 19) instead of social studies was made in 12 districts of the state, sources said. These are Barnala, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Mansa, Pathankot, Patiala, Rupnagar, Sangrur, Tarn Taran, SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr) and Mohali. The authorities will frame the Punjabi question paper afresh.

On Friday, however, there was panic at centres, where the goof up materialised. Finally, schools arranged photocopies of social studies question paper and the exam started, but around an hour later than the usual time of 1pm. Students were given commensurate extra time.

State Council of Educational Research and Training director Inderjit Singh admitted that at few examination centres across the state, Punjabi language question papers were sent instead of social studies. “It is an error on the part of the printer. They packed Punjabi papers in packets meant for social studies. We have blacklisted the firm; it will also be penalised for this mistake.”

Ludhiana saw issue at six centres

In Ludhiana, the problem was faced at six examination centres. These were Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Jagraon Bridge; GSSS, Engine Shed; Government High School, Sarih; GSSS, Dharour; GSSS Pamaal and GSSS Hargobindpura. At all these centres, the paper started an hour late.

At some centres, all papers were of Punjabi; at others, one of three packets was found to be of Punjabi.

Government Senior Secondary School, Jagraon Bridge, principal, Naib Kaur said, “Teachers on duty informed me. I called up the district authorities and got the copy of the correct question paper from one of the centres nearest to our school.” A Class-8 student, said, “The correct paper was not distributed till 1.45pm. After 2pm, it was distributed and we attempted the exam.”

16 schools received wrong paper in Sangrur

In Sangrur district, the problem was witnessed in Sherpur, Sunam, Lehragaga and Moonak areas. Paramjit Singh, district examination controller, said, “The issue was rectified as soon as we could. Students were given the full time of three hours to write the exam.”

district education officer (DEO secondary) Sukhbir Singh said, “The issue was the packing of wrong papers. Now, the Punjabi exam may be cancelled.”

Chaos at 4 centres in Tarn Taran

More than 200 students at four examination centres — Bhikhiwind, Brahmpura, Dubali and Mundapind — were affected and their exam started half an hour late.

“After we detected that wrong papers had been sent, we directed the examination staff to get the social studies paper from the nearest examination centre. Photocopies of the social studies paper was distributed to students,” said DEO (secondary), Nirmal Singh. Students were given an extra half an hour, he further said.

First Published: Mar 15, 2019 08:43 IST