Bhubaneswar: It seems that online Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET) 2019 has run into rough weather. This time, the controversy is over release of faulty answer key by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha.
While many candidates alleged that there have been massive errors in the answer key, others raised questions on the timing of the release of the key during Durga Puja vacation. To find corroboration to the allegations levelled by candidates, one needs to go through the answers provided in the key.
In the key, the answer to who is the 26th Governor of Odisha has been mentioned as Naveen Patnaik while the correct answer is Professor Ganeshi Lal. While the correct answer to who's is the poet of Kedar Gouri is Radhanath Rai, as per the key, it is Fakir Mohan Senapati. While Chandipur is located in Balasore district, the answer key mentions that the place is in Bhadrak district.
“We do not have any problem if they make Naveen Patnaik the Governor, PM or President. The authorities should not play with the future of candidates,” said Dinabandhu Pati, a candidate.
It is pertinent to mention here that BSE had released the answer key of the OTET on October 5. The online OTET exam was held in 45 shifts between August 5 and 18. As per sources, there are 10 errors in the answer key in each shift.
Candidates who want to raise objection or challenge the official OTET Answer Key 2019 are advised to log onto the website and file their objection by October 10. However, the candidates will have to pay a fee of Rs 500 per objection.
“The fee is very high. If I secure 84 against the qualifying marks of 90, I will have to pay Rs 3,000 for 6 questions,” said Debashish, another candidate.
Usually the answer key is released within 10 days of completion of the exam. The candidates have raised questions over the release of answer key during Puja vacation in such haphazard manner.
Earlier, the OTET offline exam held in January 16 was cancelled following a question paper leak. Later as well, the question paper of the online mode exam also went viral on social media, but it was not admitted by the board.
Despite several attempts, the comments of BSE and school and mass education minister could not be obtained on the issue.