Mumbai too gives shoes the boot during exams

For students attempting their board exams at Bandra Urdu High School and Manik Vidya Mandir centres, stepping inside their examination hall must feel akin to visiting a temple, as they have to leave their footwear outside the hall along with their bags.

Both centres are insisting on students attempting the exam barefoot, so that they cannot get away with hiding chits inside their socks.

“It is a well-known fact that quite a few students try to hide chits inside socks and shoes. To curb such malpractice, we have asked them to keep their shoes and socks outside with their bags and mobile phones,” said Shubhada Vinekar, principal of Manik Vidya Mandir, Bandra.

She added that since it is impossible to check everyone’s pockets and shoes, this rule will discourage students from trying anything unlawful. “Such rules will let the students know that they cannot cheat during exams. There are fewer instances of malpractice, thanks to these regulations,” explained Vinekar.

Even though this is the first time such a rule is being implemented at centres in Mumbai, the Kolhapur division of the state education board has already made it mandatory to leave footwear outside the exam hall. The division, which comprises three districts viz Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur, had conducted a pilot run at a few centres in Satara last year.