The Himachal Pradesh Board Cancels 12th Grade English Exam
Himachal Pradesh News: The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) has postponed the 12th-grade English examination scheduled for March 8th. This decision followed an incident at the Chuwadi examination center in Chamba district where 30 students were mistakenly given the 10th-grade question paper instead of the 12th-grade paper.
How the Mistake Occurred
At the Government Senior Secondary School Chuwadi examination center in Chamba, the examination superintendent mistakenly distributed the 12th-grade English question paper to 30 students instead of the 10th-grade paper. After realizing the error, the papers were retrieved, and the correct papers were distributed. However, a complaint reached the education board at 4:30 PM, leading to the decision to postpone the examination.
Exam Mitra App Exposes the Flaw
Board officials investigated a video uploaded to the newly launched Exam Mitra mobile app. The investigation confirmed the complaint, revealing a breach of question paper confidentiality. Consequently, the 12th-grade English examination scheduled for March 8th was canceled.
Action Against Examination Center Staff
Following this lapse, the board has dispatched a team to Chuwadi to investigate the matter. Strict action may be taken against the erring examination superintendent and staff, potentially including a ban on their future involvement in board examinations.
Questions Raised About the Oversight
According to board guidelines, the question papers were opened in the presence of staff and the principal. A video was recorded and uploaded to the Exam Mitra app; however, nobody noticed the distribution of the incorrect question paper. Questions are being raised about why this oversight wasn't detected during the examination.
Discrepancies in 10th Grade Paper as Well
Issues were not limited to the 12th-grade examination. Discrepancies also emerged in the 10th-grade examination. In some centers, parts of the B-series question paper were printed in the A-series English question paper. This error affected students in several districts, including Kangra, Mandi, Bilaspur, and Una. Following an investigation, the board may seek an explanation from the question paper setting and moderation committee.
Additional Time Granted to Students
Upon discovering the error in the 10th-grade question paper, the board instructed examination centers to distribute the correct papers and provide affected students with additional time. The board stated that further action will be taken after a thorough investigation.
Statement by the Board Secretary
Dr. Major Vishal Sharma, Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education, stated: "The 12th-grade question paper was mistakenly opened at the Chuwadi examination center. Following a complaint, an investigation using the Exam Mitra mobile app confirmed the error. Due to the breach of examination confidentiality, the 12th-grade English examination has been postponed, and the new date will be announced soon."
Examination Superintendent's Explanation
Examination superintendent Suman Lata explained: "A video was recorded and uploaded to the Exam Mitra app before opening the question paper. At that time, I did not notice that it was the 12th-grade paper. After making the video, I left. The mistake was discovered later, and the correct 10th-grade question paper was immediately given to the students."
