Amidst tight security, Matriculation and Intermediate exams of the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) began peacefully on Monday. JAC Chairman Anand Bhushan inspected some examination centres of the state capital to take stock of the examination arrangements and other aspects.
The first paper of the Matric exam was held from 9:45 am to 1 pm. Inter exam was held from 2 pm to 5:15 pm. Following the guidelines of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), JAC has started giving extra 15 minutes prior to the exam from this year so that students can go through the question paper thoroughly.
Bhushan inspected Bethesda Girls High School, Azad High School, St John’s High School, Ursuline Girl’s Convent, Zila School, Balkrishna High School and Marwari Boys High School during the matriculation exam. In order to keep a strict vigil the Chairman checked hands of the examinees in some of the centres.
“It is a norm to expel a student on the spot if he or she is found with cheating activities like writing on the hands. Fortunately, we did not find such cases,” Bhushan said.
The JAC Chairman also visited Gossner College, St Paul’s College, St Margaret High School and St Paul’s High School during the intermediate exam. The seven teams comprising 15 Observers each also inspected exam centres in their respective districts. Patrolling of Shakti Mobiles and Tiger Bikes were seen in front of many exam centres.
Council’s 12 hour functional control room from 8 am proved helpful to the aspirants on the first day of this board examination. A Representative at the toll free number 18003456523 said, “We received 24 calls from matric and inter students of Ranchi, Bokaro, Hazaribagh and Koderma. All were regarding query on location of exam centre and exam timings.”
Students in most of the centres were satisfied with the facilities like drinking water and seating arrangement. Priti Kumari, a matric aspirant of Adarsh Vidya Mandir High School, Tiril who appeared for her first paper at St Paul’s High School, Bahubazaar said, “There is a long distance between our home and exam centre. But, the arrangements gave us no point to complain and feel exhausted. We wrote the answers in a peaceful environment.”
Interestingly, teachers seemed convinced with the entire board exam process of this session. A teacher of St John’s High School attached to St John’s Inter College said none of the students created any disturbance during the matric and inter examinations.
In some of the centres located at the heart of the city like Doranda College, St Xavier’s College and St John’s Inter College, the examination was monitored through Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) connected to the Principal’s Chamber.
Notably, around 454833 students are appearing for matric exam in 900 centres. 308766 students are appearing for inter exam in 438 centres. Among the 24 districts, maximum students are appearing from the state capital. Matric exams are concluding on March 2 while the inter exams are concluding on March 10.