BELAGAVI:The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board has decided to withdraw its order making installation of CCTV cameras mandatory for conducting SSLC examinations.
To curb malpractices, the board had issued the order instructing all educational institutions to install CCTV cameras in all the classrooms if they wanted to conduct the examinations. The board had set a deadline of January 31 for all education institutions that wished to conduct the examinations.
The Belagavi Education District has 98 examination centres, among which 77 are private educational institutions.
Following the board’s order in December, 70 per cent of private institutions in Belagavi educational district have installed cameras while only 2 of the 21 government centers were able to get the cameras installed. About Rs 1-1.2 lakh is required to install four to five high definition cameras which give a clear view for about 10 metres and also in semi-dark rooms.
The situation of government schools in Chikkodi Educational District was no different as more than 95 per cent of the identified centres are yet to be equipped with CCTV cameras. These schools have also told the government they were not in a position to equip the centres with CCTVs this year.
As the government schools are in no position to follow its order, the board has decided to withdraw the order but has planned to make it compulsory from the next year, sources said.