KORAPUT/JEYPORE/NABARANGPUR/PARLAKHEMUNDI: With students from several pockets in Maoist-prone areas of southern districts set to appear for the High School Certificate (HSC) examination from Monday, elaborate security arrangements have been put in place by the officials of the Board of Secondary Education to store question papers and check malpractice.
It has been decided to keep question papers in police stations in Maoist-hit areas of Narayanpatna, Bandhugam and Lamtaput. On Sunday, question papers were dispatched to the designated centres amidst tight security as per the direction of the Board, said Koraput Additional Education Officer Gourang Mishra.
Four flying squads will monitor smooth conduct of the examination to be held at 60 centres in Koraput district, said District Education Officer (DEO) Prakash Joshi. While one squad would be headed by the DEO himself, two would be led by officials of the district administration and one by the Board officials. Apart from this, the District Collector would deploy an observer each at all the centres, Joshi added.
As many as 13,156 students will write the examination. About eight nodal centres were identified to distribute question and answers sheets across the district. “We have reviewed the examination preparation with all block level education officers and it is expected to be trouble-free,” Mishra added.
In Maoist-infested Raighar block of Nabarangpur district, question papers have been stored at a police station. A total of 1,051 teachers have been deployed as Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent and invigilators for the examination.
In Gajapati district, 7,249 students will write the exam at 31 centres. Four nodal centres have been set up at Parlakhemundi, Mohana, R Udayagiri and Rayagada.
Gajapati SP said armed policemen have been deployed at the nodal centres to maintain round-the-clock vigil.