BHUBANESWAR: Matriculation re-examination scheduled to go underway from April 17 will be held under security blanket with the State Government on Thursday ordering round-the-clock armed police security around the centres right from receiving question papers till the end of the examinations.
As the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha, is set to introduce a new system for distribution of question papers through designated nodal centres in the districts, the Government has directed the collectors, SPs and DCPs to identify such institutions in consultation with district education officers. The list of the nodal centres should be finalised and sent to the Board for approval by March 31.
The nodal centres would act as storing and despatch points for the question papers sent by the BSE prior to the examinations. Each nodal centre would cater to around 10 to 15 examination centres.
The BSE has decided to send question papers on one subject at a time. The question papers would be sent from the nodal to the examination centres a day before the date of the examination. The whole system would function under nodal centre in-charges and despatch team. A comprehensive training of all officials involved in the process is currently on and would be completed by March 31.
According to the Government decision, armed police would escort each despatch team during transit of question papers. Constables and home guards would be deployed at each examination centre to ensure safe custody of the question papers.
Chief Secretary BK Patnaik asked the collectors to provide vehicles for despatch of question papers from nodal centres to examination centres. The SPs and DCPs should make an assessment of the institutions under them and draw up security plans accordingly. Patnaik said 24-hour control rooms will function at the BSE as well as Directorate of Secondary Education during the entire period of examinations. He has advised opening control rooms at district-level to monitor the situation before and during the examinations and send daily reports to the BSE and DSE.