DESAM demands probe in BOSEM mark scandal
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 15 2018:
Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has demanded the State Government to constitute an inquiry committee led by a retired IAS officer to investigate the mark allocation scandal which has clouded Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) during the last few days.
Speaking to media persons at DESAM office at Sagolband today, its secretary general Shital Oinam said that the paper examination process of the HSLC examination 2018 conducted by BOSEM, is riddled with errors and various sections are lashing out at BOSEM for such errors.
Pointing out an alleged case of favouritism, he claimed that in question number 19 of the Science paper, the Head Examiner gave 2 marks to a student but in case of Archana Hijam (who secured the 4th position), her marks which was given by the initial examiner, was cut by the Head Examiner and she was awarded only 1 mark, although she asnwered the same points as the other student.
This is a case of intentionally preventing a potential topper from securing the top spot, he alleged.
Shital continued that in another such incident, one Thokchom Einstein Singh of Grace Academy, Heirok Part II, was prevented from securing a position in the HSLC exam 2018, after the Head Examiner cut more than 9 marks for no apparent reason.
Unsatisfied with the marks he got, the said student filed an RTI to re-check his paper and discovered that 9 marks had been cut from his Home Science paper, Shital added.
Not only that, Einstein was also found to be short of 3 marks in Science paper and some marks in English paper.
Shital alleged that such antics have prevented many eligible students from securing the positions they deserve.
He further claimed that students who are not well off and who have no contacts in high places like with the Examiner, Head Examiner, Coordinator etc, are being intentionally prevented from securing ranks.
Demanding the State Government to remove the Chairman in-charge of BOSEM, Secretary and Controller from their posts, Shital further demanded the Government to constitute an inquiry committee headed by a retired IAS officer and investigate the issue at the earliest.
The secretary general of DESAM also demanded the Government to refrain from allowing the examiners, Head Examiner, Coordinator etc to access any of BOSEM or COHSEM's confidential works.
He also demanded the authorities concerned to award proper punishment to all those involved and also to award the necessary marks which the affected students deserve in the first place.