MADHYAMIK 2014

EOI, Darjeeling 24 Feb 2014: As many as 10,852 students are appearing in this year’s Madhyamik examination from the three sub-divisions of the Darjeeling hills, an increase of 386 candidates, from last year’s 10,466 aspirants.

The Darjeeling subdivision has a total of 5,245 students, including external, continuing and compartmental candidates, while Kurseong has 1,829 candidates including those from the Mirik area. Meanwhile, Kalimpong is fielding 3,778 candidates for this year’s Madhyamik examination that began today and will go on till March 6.

“There has been an increase and up-gradation of schools (junior to high) in the hills resulting in more students appearing for the Madhyamik examination this year,” explained Rupa Thapa, district inspector of secondary education (hill area).

However, Thapa could not provide the break-up of the male and female students and said higher authorities have not made details available yet.

Ten main centres and 45 sub-venues have been set up in the three subdivisions for the examination.

“This year we have had to increase the venues to facilitate the higher number of students from as many as 127 schools. All required arrangements were put in place well ahead,” said Thapa.

The exam dates have been brought forward from their original schedule in March keeping the Lok Sabha election in mind, informed Kishore Pradhan, the in-charge of the Darjeeling centre.

This year, those appearing for the examination will be video-graphed and there are plans to install CCTVs in venues perceived as vulnerable.

“We will be video-graphing proceedings during the exams. The higher authorities have asked us to provide evidence of how the exams are conducted across venues. We might also install CCTVs at sensitive centres later,” said Pradhan, adding sufficient security arrangements have been put in place in all venues.

Siliguri: Madhyamik examinations 2014 commenced today with first language papers and 17, 227 examinees from Siliguri wrote them under strict police vigilance. No untoward incident was reported from any centre till the end of the day. The deadline for the candidates’ entry was set at 11:45 am while the exams were held from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Siliguri mayor Gangotri Dutta visited several exam centres including the Siliguri Girls High School to motivate candidates. Speaking to the press, Dutta said guardians should encourage their wards rather than exerting unnecessary pressure by considering the fact they are confronting board exams for the first time in their lives. She expressed hope of seeing a better outcome than last year.

The police had restricted vehicular movement to 200m of the examination centres while shops with photo-copy machines in the vicinities were closed down. Besides, women police and civic police officials and employees of the education department were also deployed at the centres.