Watchmen, peons named 'subject experts' to evaluate UP Board exam papers

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Lucknow: In yet another incident reflecting the lack of seriousness of education authorities, it has now come to light that some schools in Uttar Pradesh have entrusted the job of evaluating board exam papers to peons, chowkidaars, clerks and sanitation workers.

As per a report in 'The Times of India', few schools located in the remote areas have listed peons, chowkidaars, clerks and sanitation workers as `subject experts' for evaluating class 10 and 12th UP Board examination answer sheets.

As per rules, principals of all government, aided and self-financed schools are required to provide details of subject experts for evaluation and invigilation work for the board exams.

As part of a new system introduced in 2013, details of a teacher, including his academic qualification, year of joining and expertise, are to uploaded on the UP Board's website.

This year's process is scheduled to be completed by December 31.

However, gross anomalies were detected after the board expedited the preparation of the invigilator database for the Class XII practical exams.

“Upon the discovery, the details of teachers being uploaded for evaluation were screened and innumerable schools were found to have committed such irregularities,“ a board official was quoted as saying on the condition of anonymity .

UP Board Secretary Shail Yadav has, however, written to the principals to rectify the mistakes at the earliest.

“Principals were found to have uploaded the names of chowkidaars, safai karmcharis and clerks along with other non-academic staff last year as well,“ Yadav was quoted as saying.

“Principals have been strictly warned that they should immediately delete any such mistakes,“ he added.