Doubts over timely Plus-II results in Odisha as lapses surface

Bhubaneswar/Balasore/Jeypore: Concerns are being raised over timely announcement of results of the Plus-II examinations, conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha, as irregularities have been reported from different answer sheet evaluation centres across the State.

Due to lack of required infrastructure at some centres, the evaluation process has been delayed whereas absence of adequate number of evaluators at some evaluation centres has made the situation worse.

For instance, the evaluation centre at Balasore MEMS College has only 160 evaluators even though 240 have been assigned for the centre. Some evaluators alleged that adequate number of computers at the centres is not available which is why they were unable to complete the evaluation of answer sheets on time. As there was delay in getting one time passwords (OTP) on their mobile phones, some other evaluators even could not open the computers. Power cuts have also aggravated the situation at some centres as there are no power back-ups.

A lecturer on evaluation duty, Rita Debi said, "I have come here since April 8. There are lot of irregularities at the centre due to which I had not evaluated any answer sheets for three days. Most of the computers at the centre are not functioning."

Chief examiner, Sharat Chandra Bag said, "Due to absence of adequate number of computers, examiners are left with either no work or very little work to do. Power failure in the middle of the evaluation is adding to the woes."

At the same time, due to poll duty, many lecturers have been unable to join the Plus II answer sheet evaluation process. At Vikram Dev Autonomous College, Jeypore, the situation is very grim as 56 examiners are evaluating as against the assigned strength of 90.

Accepting the irregularities in the evaluation of Plus II answer sheets, the CHSE said it has directed the centres to conduct the evaluation in two shifts.

"There have been some problems for online evaluation at certain places. Either because of slow internet or lack of sufficient number of computers at the centres, evaluators are facing difficulties. To counter the situation, we are conducting evaluation in two shifts. We believe that there will not be any effect on publication of the results," said Prashant Das, chief examination controller, CHSE.

As per the schedule, the first phase evaluation of Plus II Science, Arts and Commerce stream answer sheets which began from April 8 should have concluded on April 18. The results are scheduled to be declared in the third week of May.

A total of 3,65,826 students had appeared for Plus-II examinations in the State in March this year. For evaluation, the CHSE has set up 95 evaluation centres across the State.