Rattled AHSEC on reform mode

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 21: Rattled by protests and criticism for alleged question papers leak in the ongoing higher secondary fil examitions, the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) has decided to go in for several reform initiatives to maintain the sanctity of exams as well the credibility of the council.

As a prelimiry step towards bringing about reforms, the AHSEC on Wednesday put one of its fourth-grade employees, Surendra th Deka, under suspension for neglecting his duties. There were allegations and reports that Deka often did the vanishing act soon after signing his attendance register. The council has warned that other officials and employees will meet similar fate in case they are in dereliction of duties.

AHSEC chairman Dayanda Buragohain told The Sentinel on Wednesday that it was high time to put the house in order and so he had contemplated on taking several reform initiatives. He said that a comprehensive blueprint would be worked out to carry out reforms in the AHSEC.

“In view of the mushrooming of private junior colleges in the State, the AHSEC will tighten its rules to accord affiliation and recognition to such institutes for the sake of the academic future of students. We will keep a strict vigil on private institutions so that they do not take students and their parents for a ride. There will regular inspection at private institutions to prevent them from taking to unfair practices to perform well in the HS fil exams,” Buragohain said.

Buragohain, a noted educationist  known for enforcing discipline, had on Tuesday said a racket or syndicate was active inside and outside the AHSEC to leak question papers of higher secondary examitions to help a section of private institutions perform brilliantly. The AHSEC chairman’s statement came in less than 24 hours after an inquiry panel led by former judge Justice BC Das into alleged question papers leak by Science Academy, Goalpara submitted its report to the higher secondary council on late Monday evening.

Buragohain said there are strong reasons to believe that a racket is involved in leaking question papers since such incidents have been taking place for some years now. “We may approach the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell to conduct a probe into question papers leakage racket,” he said.

Buragohain said the employees’ union of the AHSEC has assured him of extending  full cooperation to reform initiatives.