LUCKNOW: To curb copying in the ongoing UP Board examinations, action has been initiated not only against errant students but also invigilators and centre in-charges who have been found to be facilitating cheating.
So far, 1,500 students using unfair means in the board examination have been nabbed, while 327 exam centre in-charges and 600 invigilators have been replaced, Secretary, UP Board, Shail Yadav told PTI from Allahabad.
Cases have been lodged against 178 invigilators and 111 centre in charges and 70 students, Yadav said, adding as many as 54 centres have been cancelled and another 57 blacklisted.
Besides, FIR has been lodged against the management of four exam centres. Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, who is also the minister of the department concerned, has told the officials about the state government's resolve to check copying in the exams.
Besides issuing helplines to lodge complaints for checking mass copying, Sharma said he has issued instructions for eradicating "nakal mafia" from the state. Sharma held a video conference with District Magistrates recently and directed them to ensure there was no copying in the ongoing board examinations. He even paid surprise visits to some exam centres in the state capital and neighbouring Barabanki.
In a bid to stop cheating in the exams, the board has issued helpline numbers and any person finding any information related to the cheating should WhatsApp on 9454457241 or on landline number 0522-2236760.
The UP Board was set up in 1921 in Allahabad by the Act of United Provinces Legislative Council and affiliates most of the schools in the state. At present there are 9,121 secondary schools recognised by the UP Board of High School and Intermediate Education, according to its website.