Exams are held to asses a student’s merit and as a means of promotion to the next class but these are also a big business which helps to manage an institution like the State Board of School Education. Ikhlaq Qadri reports.

The examination fee charged from students is proving to be a major source of income for organisations like Board of School Education, entrusted with conducting school exams in the state besides the universities in Kashmir.

“Jammu and Kashmir Board (of School Education) is a self-sustaining institution which is run on the money generated from the examination fee and sale of text books,” Joint secretary Examination, Abdul Hamid Kant, said.

More than 300,000 students appear in senior and higher secondary exams conducted by the board every year for which it collects around Rs 19 crore as examination fee. The board conducts the exams with a part of this money and uses the rest to run the institution.

The University of Kashmir, which conducts exams of around 200,000 students at under graduate level every year, collects around Rs 20 crore as examination fee charging a student Rs 1000 on an average. Officials say half the money is spent on conducting exams and the rest is deposited in the university chest.

“If a student pays Rs 1000, around 500 are spent on conducting exam and other facilities, rest is transferred to the university chest,” a university official wishing anonymity said.

Even when the board and the university are earning from conducting exams, they are often found wanting in providing heating arrangements in the exam centres, making them write their exams in cold school buildings.
 
Gousia Noor, a class 12th student of Mallinson Girls School, who appeared in the Government Girls Higher secondary School Kothibagh exam centre says that in the absence of heating arrangement, she could not write properly in the chilling cold. “We faced immense trouble while writing our exams. At times we couldn’t even write because of cold,” Gousia said.

The students across all classes and institutions complain about lack of heating arrangements.
The students and teachers also complain that in many text books there are many mistakes. The information provided in some cases is outdated and in others it is completely wrong.

“I brought into notice of  board officials the mistakes, may be they have rectified them in the new issues as of now I have not gone through the new one,” said a teacher of reputed private school, wishing not to be named.

In the recently concluded annual, secondary school examination around 64600 candidates appeared and each candidate was charged Rs.490 as examination fee. In case a student fails to submit forms by the last date, he or she is charged an additional Rs.360 as late fee. The board collected around Rs 3.20 crore as examination fee from these students.

The other major examination conducted by board is of class 12th. For this year’s annual regular exam the board charged Rs. 600 as fee and Rs 15 for cost of per-cum-Adm form besides an additional Rs 130 from students appearing in an additional subject, fetching the board more than Rs 3.65 crore.

Besides these two examinations the board conducts four more in a year which includes bi-annual and annual private of class 10th,  bi-annual and annual Private of class 12th.

Joint Director Kant says, “We manage the examination affairs and the infrastructure here at new campus from our own money.” The board organises seminars, (teacher) trainings and other personality programmes. We are running sub-offices, branch offices as well.”

The board officials say, the major part of the money is spent on the remuneration of the supervisory and inspecting staff, printing and stationary, and then the evaluation of the answer sheets.

The recently revised rate of remuneration of the staff for the conduct of exam is around Rs 1500 per day in one centre. Other than this the practical examination of class 10th and 12th costs around Rs 20 lakh.

An inspection conducted by the principals and the co-inspectors in case of class 12th exam costs board around Rs. 4000 per visit. In inspecting class 10th examination centre by the in charge inspector, Co-inspector and the affiliation inspector cost around Rs 2000.

The board is so self-sufficient, that they even pay the salaries to their employees from their own kitty without any government assistance.
“With this money we also give salaries to our employees,” said Kant.

The University of Kashmir generates around Rs 20 crore every year from the students as examination fee. The university, officials say, spends half the amount on conducting exams and deposits the rest in the university chest.

The money is spent on setting papers, printing, heating, and on remuneration of supervisory staff.

This year the university almost doubled the examination fee. An official said, “We are actually moving to the phase where all the expenses of higher education are to be borne by the students.”

The university has approximately 5000 students enrolled in campus. There are two satellite campuses of University as well running in south and north Kashmir besides running under graduate courses in various affiliated colleges. The university spends around Rs five crore on the remuneration of staff, conduct of exams, stationary and evaluation of the post graduate students.

Harris Amin, a mass communication student has all praises for the arrangements made by the university for conducting exams, but complains of high fee charged by the university.

“The arrangements are adequate and the students are made comfortable, but the fee is too much,” said Harris.

But the students appearing in exams in the affiliate colleges say that there are insufficient heating arrangements in examination centres.

“We don’t have adequate heating arrangement. When we complain, they tell us to come near to the coal heater. If we do that we will lose the time which already is scarce,” said Raahat, a final year student of Government College for women, M.A Road Srinagar.

Same complaints came from the Government College for women Nawakadal, where the students shiver due to chilling cold and the supervisors make themselves stand  around the only coal stove present in the examination hall.

“Examiners themselves sit around Coal Stove and we are left in lurch,” said Mehvish, final year student.

The university officials say that colleges deduct the amount for such requirements at the source.

“We receive deducted amount after making provision for colleges to provide necessary facilities,” said senior university official requesting not be named.

Another student whose exam is beginning in a week pinned on the university administration to intervene and get the required arrangements done.

“We expect University to come forward and help us to be comfortable in the examination,” said Rumaisa, a final year BBA Student.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here