Madhyamik Examination: Suspension axe for phone ban violation... MADHYAMIK RULE FOR TEACHERS ON INVIGILATION

TT, 10 Feb 2019, Salt Lake: Teachers on Madhyamik invigilation duty can be suspended if they are found with phones at exam venues, a secondary education board official said on Saturday.

MADHYAMIK RULE FOR TEACHERS ON INVIGILATION

"Teachers and non-teaching staff of all schools have been told of the ban on phones at exam venues," the official said. "Disciplinary proceedings will start immediately if someone is found with a phone at any centre. They can be suspended if proved guilty." Metro had reported on February 6 about the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education's set of instructions, including the ban on phones, to all exam venues. The report had mentioned about the instructions ending with a note saying "deviation will attract stringent action".

On Saturday, the board spelt out the "action" against teachers or non-teaching staff if they were found with phones at exam venues.

The Madhyamik exams will start on February 12 and continue till February 22.

Teachers and non-teaching employees of schools will have to switch off their phones and deposit them to the heads of the institutions, according to the board rules. The phones will be kept under lock and key till the day's exam gets over.

The phone ban is part of the board's plan to check exam malpractice.

The officer-in-charge of the venue, the venue-in-charge, the school heads who are centre secretaries, venue supervisors and additional venue supervisors can use their phones while exams are on but only to communicate with board officials on exam-related matters.

"This time we are trying to prevent any violation of the rule at each and every centre. We have had complaints of question papers circulating on WhatsApp in the past years despite the ban," the board official said.

The board has asked schools where Madhyamik exams will be held to put up posters on the gate saying examinees are banned from carrying phones, electronic gadgets and calculators to the premises..