Having been caught out twice this exam season, the Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) is plugging all holes to ensure that the II PU chemistry re-examination goes off smoothly on April 12. The department has printed multiple sets of question papers instead of following the usual practice of printing 1.74 lakh copies of just one paper.
After the re-exam paper leakage on March 31, the department is taking no chances. “We are all set to ensure that there is no leak on April 12. But even if something goes wrong, we want to have a back-up plan and ensure the exam goes on, which is why we have set multiple question papers,” said a source.
During a video-conference on Thursday, senior officials in the department directed the deputy commissioners of each district to ensure that question paper bundles were picked up from two locations across the State and deposited in the district treasuries by April 11. However, the DPUE is tight-lipped about the number of question paper bundles that will be despatched, and which set will finally be distributed on April 12. “The department is providing us with information from time to time and informing us about the precautionary measures that need to be taken. We are expecting more details to follow in the next two days,” said one deputy commissioner.
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Another issue that has not been disclosed by the department to the district administration is whether multiple question papers will be distributed in different regions, or whether there will be a common paper across the State. “Until the last minute, we do not want to disclose any details about the examination as we want to be extremely cautious this time,” said a source.
In what seems to be a cloak-and-dagger operation, on the day of the exam, the deputy commissioners will receive an SMS on which question paper bundle is to be despatched to the exam centres. The chemistry exam, which 1.74 lakh students wrote on March 21, was cancelled after the department discovered a leak. The re-exam on March 31 was also cancelled after another paper leakage.