New Delhi, February 19: “No shoes, socks, belts or modern wristwatches” besides a ban on mobile phones, calculators and scraps of paper can be carried by students while appearing for school examinations in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu that is scheduled to begin next month.
This directive has been given to invigilators by the state Directorate of Government Examinations to curb malpractices and cheating.
In a handbook on March 2010 higher secondary examination duties, the directorate has given an advisory for examination hall superintendents. The advisory mandates hall superintendents to instruct students to ”keep shoes, socks and belts outside the hall.”
Besides, students cannot wear ”modern wristwatches” or carry mobile phones, calculators and scraps of paper inside the hall, the Times of India newspaper reported Thursday..
‘It is common for students to hide scraps of paper containing answers inside their shoes or socks. Some of them even insert it in their belts, which is difficult to spot. Instead of conducting random checks, it would be more effective if shoes and socks are left outside the examination hall as a foolproof measure,” an official of Directorate of Government Examinations has been quoted as saying.
Smuggling answers scribbled in tiny papers hidden in pockets, exchanging answer sheets with other students, passing clues through classroom windows or exchanging answers after leaving the class rooms on the pretext of going to the loo, is still the commonest means for students to cheat, according to school authorities.
They say most copying usually takes place for subjects like maths, geography and history where students find it difficult to memorize. India follows rote system of education that many believe thwarts students from thinking for themselves.
–Agencies