Students can ask for copies of their answer scripts under right to info; move is aimed at minimising 'human error'.
Students can ask for copies of their answer scripts under right to info; move is aimed at minimising 'human error'
Soon you will be able to ask for a photocopy of your SSC or HSC answer script by invoking the Right to Information Act. This will help in minimising the "human error" involved in the examination process. An analysis of exam results of the past five years have showed that over two per cent errors take place just while computing marks obtained by applicants.
Suresh Joshi, commissioner, Right to Information Act, has written letters to Sumit Mullik, secretary of school education and Joyce Shankaran, secretary of higher and technical education, to create provisions for allowing students to see photocopies of their answer scripts on demand under Right to Information Act, 2005. Though the action was initiated after an application by a student Harshalini Patil from Sangli, who wanted a photocopy of her English answer script of SSC examination, the decision to include it and create provisions for the respective departments came only after the commissioner analysed results of the past five years.
"At present the Maharashtra Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has provision only for rechecking the computation of marks and not for reevaluation. When we analysed the applications filed by the students we found that in over two per cent of the cases, the computation was wrong. If a simple computation can have this level of margin of error in the age of computerisation, the students deserve to see their answer scripts and ask for instituting a reevaluation," Joshi said.
The Board chairman agreed that he "had heard about the letter", but claimed that until it is sent to the Board for necessary action, he will not be able to comment on it. "I have heard that the commissioner has asked the government to create infrastructure. But we have not yet got the copy of the letter. Moreover our priorities are different—that to ensure a smooth examination process, publishing textbooks. There might be problems if this is implemented as we will then need more time to instal such a system," said Vasant Kalpande, Maharashtra Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education chairman.
Patil's November 2005 application was rejected by the Board claiming that under the Maharashtra Secondary Boards Act (1965), answer sheets were "confidential" and hence would not be given. The contract between the Board and the examiner prevents the answer scripts to be made public. But now systems should be developed for ensuring the rights of the students as well, felt Joshi.
Though Patil's application was rejected by the commission in its appeal, it was only done to avoid a massive logistic problem for the Board. The commission thinks this can be overcome with due preparation. "I have put my proposal to the ministers, explaining them the logic and telling them to create this framework because next time such applications should not be rejected," said Patil.
While the Mumbai regional chairman of the board, Vijayshila Sardesai, refused to comment on the issue, the Board Chairman, Vasant Kalpande, could not be contacted.
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