The step to drop 336 college teachers from examiner panel for faulty evaluation of Plus II papers will certainly work like whipping. It would at least make the examiners more responsible henceforth. But looking at the mess during the valuation time every year for which the CHSE, zone officials and chief, assistant examiners and scrutinizers are equally guilty, one wonders if this small step can be of any great relief.
From providing logistics to ensuring discipline and transparency, the CHSE has completely failed when it comes to valuation. The valuation zones are generally held in leading colleges in the district headquarters across the State. Examiners are appointed to evaluate papers for a week or so, depending on the stock of scripts.
While the CHSE only minds its business of getting the answer scripts evaluated anyhow, it does not care a hoot about various problems faced by the personnel engaged in the duty. All it wants is the personnel must report the centre and finish their tasks, little minding if there is a need to ensure ease.
Nobody bothers about the accommodation of the examiners who come from far-off places to attend valuation. Although there is a provision of a nominal amount for this, the examiners fail to afford even the cheapest lodge or hotel for their stay for the entire period of work.
The CHSE neither revises the amount nor issues directions to the zone supervisors or the principals of the colleges where the zones are conducted to arrange accommodation for the examiners at nominal rent.
Even at time when the zone supervisor takes interest in it, the principal is found at odd with him. At the worst, the examiners have to stay in college hostels, temples and other undisclosed locations and take food in hotels. At times, given the remoteness of the locations, the examiners have to walk on foot several miles to access a hotel. Everybody can understand how grueling it is for one to walk miles to take food under scorching sun during day or in darkness of night at a strange place. The valuation works are generally done during May-June.
The valuation centre in most cases looks awful without basic arrangements. Abandoned halls or library reading rooms or auditorium halls are spared by the college authority for valuation centre. It is no secret that these halls are the most neglected ones in every college bereft of adequate fans and light arrangements. Even when there are a few fans, many of them are found defunct with their wings twisted or wires or coils burnt.
The long and tall halls and their large windows and doors come as a bit of relief as they help good ventilation. Notwithstanding that it is found that the examiners have to pour over the scripts under heavy perspiration with sweat rolling down into the papers and making them wet. It is better not to speak of drinking water facility since earthen pots are kept near the halls with least thought lent to hygiene. Old water is not replaced with new regularly.
lack of discipline in the halls is another drawback. Given the horrible nature of the work, many highly-paid Government college readers skip the duty. But then the CHSE does not take any action against them. An examination table comprises a chief examiner, several assistant examiners and a scrutinizer. When the chief of the table does not join, the senior most among the assistant examiners is promoted to the post. If he/she is from a Government college, things go normal but if he/she happens to be from a private college, the assistant examiner(s) from Government college in the table hardly reconciles to it given his/her ego. When the chief fails to maintain a sync, disturbances take place.
The examiners come and go at whim; there being no strict implementation of the laws governing the valuation in a zone. It is also alleged that some examiners are told from top to do canvassing in respect of some selective scripts with vested interest. Allegations are also galore that some unscrupulous officials in the CHSE who have access to examination matters do not hesitate to manipulate marks in scripts either by influencing the examiners in the zone level or through hush-hush operation in the strong room. When these officials thrive with ill-got money, no exemplary action is taken against them.