Bhubaneswar: In a bid to ensure smooth conduct of annual Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) Plus-II examinations, the authorities had earlier decided to install CCTV cameras not only at the examination management hub but also in all exam centres to check malpractice.
As per the schedule announced by the CHSE, the Plus-II exams will begin from March 7, 2019 and will continue till March 30. The practical examination will start from January 28 and all colleges have been asked to install CCTV cameras, informed Prabodh Panda, deputy exam comptroller CHSE.
Following such directive of Odisha government, the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) had asked the college authorities to complete installation of CCTVs at all the examination centres by December this year.
However, in a reality check conducted by OTV, several junior colleges were found running behind schedule while running into roadblocks like lack of adequate infrastructure and funding.
BJB Junior College Principal, Bishnu Charan Das stated that “The original infrastructure doesn’t belong to junior college. Even if we install CCTV cameras, we are concerned over its safety and security.”
The authorities of the junior college also rued lack of infrastructure and lack of sanction for funds for the delay in the installation of CCTV cameras. As per official sources, there are 1,102 Plus-II examination centres and 202 exam management hubs across the State.
“There will be a financial burden on colleges and it is certainly unclear whether such project will be successful or not,” said Baripada Junior College principal, Ranjan Mohanty.
Balasore FM Junior College principal, Minati Sethi said “Several colleges like us do not have their own infrastructure. We share infrastructure with autonomous college. How can we install CCTV in so many rooms?”
Several colleges have demanded the government to make special allocation in the budget for CCTV installation at exam centres.