Say state board has increased number of papers within same time but no extra payment
Examiners and moderators of the state higher secondary (HSC) and secondary school (SSC) exams are upset over a bigger burden of exam paper checking assigned to them, without any hike in payment.
Till last year, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education gave these teachers an average 200 papers to assess. They were expected to complete the work in 10-12 days and were paid barely Rs2 to Rs5.
This year they have been given between 225 and 350 papers, according to the subject. "We would usually get 200 papers to correct, but this time we have been given 225-250 papers," said Rajesh Pandya, who teaches Hindi at Fatima Devi English High School, Malad.
"But the board has not extended the deadline for completing the corrections. This time we also have the burden of submitting internal examination marks lists as well as election duty," he said.
HSC examiners pointed out that in the science subjects since paper I and paper II had been combined, fewer answer papers should have been given to each teacher.
"We should have got about 150 papers to assess. Instead, some teachers have been given more than 200 papers. Examiners for language subjects have got about 300 papers," said Anil Deshmukh, a professor at Sathaye College, Vile Parle.
The increase in the burden on examiners is not only stressful but it is bound to affect the quality of assessment. "Then we are targeted for mistakes if any are found when students apply for photocopies of their answer sheets," Deshmukh explained.
This would also increase the burden on moderators, as each of them have to oversee the work of about eight examiners. "If the number of papers given to examiners increase, there is a substantial increase in the workload of moderators," Pandya pointed out.
Besides, while the board has increased the load, there has been not commensurate increase in remuneration for the work. "The money we receive for correcting papers is very little and has been that way since 2008. We have been asking for an increase but our requests have been turned down on the excuse that the board is short of funds," said Deshmukh.
SSC examiners are paid between Rs1.75 and Rs3.50 for each answer paper whereas HSC examiners receive between Rs3 and Rs5 for a paper.
Board officials explained that the additional load was due to the higher number of private candidates appearing from the city this year.
"In the Mumbai division there are more than 40,000 students appearing for the exams as private candidates. They do not belong to any school and so we have more answer papers to assess this year. The board will ensure that the problems of examiners are addressed," said Laxmikant Pande, chairperson of the board's Mumbai division.
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