BENGALURU: Though the January 1 deadline given to Pre-University colleges in the state to install CCTV cameras to be eligible as exam centres has passed, about 45 percent of colleges are yet to install them.
As per data available from the department of PUE, of the 1,003 colleges identified as exam centres for second-year PUC final exams, 55 percent of them have installed CCTV cameras. The department has now extended the time for installation of CCTVs to February.
“All exam centres will be equipped with CCTVs before exams commence,” an official said. The second-year PUC final exams are scheduled to begin on March 9.
Considering the instances of question paper leaks and malpractices reported during the March/April 2016 exams, the department took a decision to have CCTV cameras installed at all exam centres.
“Private and aided colleges identified as exam centres have to install cameras using college funds while government colleges have been asked to make use of cumulative funds. No centre is exempted and in case they fail to install CCTVs, they will not be considered as exam centres,” said a senior official of the department.
Installation of CCTV cameras at examination centres was one of the suggestions given by the CID team investigating last year’s question paper leak. The CID also suggested installation of CCTV cameras at treasuries where question papers are deposited before the start of the exams.
There are over 1,202 government PU colleges, 637 aided PU colleges, 1,936 unaided pre-university colleges, 165 bifurcated pre-university colleges and 13 corporation pre-university colleges in the state.