Question papers leaked in open school exams

Ongole: The candidates attending the Andhra Pradesh Open School Society exams are found to be coming to the exam hall with the photocopies of answers for each and every question marked from the study material. The students said that they are coughing up anywhere between Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 for the final exams to the study centres for the question papers and cooperation in the mass copying in the exams.

• Some candidates are reportedly carrying answers for the question hidden in their pockets
• Study centres who charge `15,000 to `20,000 per student, are joining hands with educational officials to leak question papers
• However, DEO rules out malpractices in examination hall since stationary and flying squads are in place

But the authorities claim that the examinations going on in the district are peaceful under supervision of stationary and flying squads. Several State and Central government employees like attenders who do not have the basic educational qualification of even Class 10 or Intermediate take the open school exams along with others.

If candidates pass out, they could take up graduation course, which will enable them to promotions and salary increments. Apparently, they register with the Andhra Pradesh Open School Society and the study centres affiliated with it for course material. Depending on the need and urgency of the candidates, many study centers are making verbal agreements with them.

They are charging about Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 in the name of exam fees and support in the exams. It is learnt that these study centers are bribing the education department officials and the exam center staff for leaking the question paper, identifying the answers and cooperating with the candidates while they are mass copying in the exams.

The APOSS public exams for the 2016, started on April 6 in the State. In Prakasam district there are 11,567 candidates attending for the Class X and Intermediate exams. Out of them, 4,000 students are attending Class X and another 4,000 students are attending Intermediate exams in Ongole.

On April 6, the Intermediate candidates from some study centres attended the Telugu exam, with the answers for each and every question. For example, in the HCM School and Junior college for girls at Ongole, many students brought the photocopies of the answers from the material.

When the media got a tip about the alleged question paper leak and reached the school for clarification, the exam centre staff didn’t allow the media into the campus, as the restrictions for entry are in force. On April 7, The Hans India and HMTV reporters visited the exam halls just before the commencement of the exams and found that there is no numbering on the tables and candidates hiding the study material in the pockets.

A candidate who reached the exam centre from a study circle revealed, “We got the question paper about one hour ago and the instructors marked the answers for the questions. These answers are enough for us to pass in the exam.” But, when asked the Superintendent of the exam centre to thoroughly check the candidates for the slips, he said that no student is carrying any material into the hall and refused to conduct checks in the presence of media.

After receiving a complaint, the RJD sent a sitting squad member, who just went through the exam halls and took rest. However, DEO Muvva Ramalingam said, “The exams are going on peacefully. There are stationary as well as flying squads who can control any malpractice in the hall.

But we could not allow the media while we are checking the candidates.” When asked about the photocopies of answers identified for each question from the study material, the officials wore a disturbed face, avoided the answer and blamed that the media is blackmailing them.