Sovima Village Council (SVC) has clarified on the matter of the theft of class VIII & IX board examination question papers, saying that the question papers were not leaked by any individual but were stolen through criminal acts.
A statement signed by SVC chairman, Neikhriehu Kense said that the village authorities, on hearing of the theft, immediately visited the school and took stock of the situation. The police were notified who arrived at the school and on inquiry, it was found that some school property had been damaged and the question papers were stolen, the statement said. It added that on inquiry, it was found that no school staff were involved.
It further clarified that the village and school authorities extended full co-operation to the investigation, and the alleged culprits, who were juveniles, were identified and the police took custody of them.
SVC urged the authorities to take appropriate action and penalize the culprits according to the law. They also requested the education department to re-consider its decision to remove Govt. High School, Sovima, from the list of examination centres, since it “greatly disturbs the preparations, schedule and logistics of the students and families.”
SVC assured the authorities of full co-operation in all aspects and said that they looked forward to solving the issue in a sympathetic and humanitarian manner.
ANSTA condemns
All Nagaland School Teachers Association (ANSTA) has condemned the theft of question papers at GHS Sovima, Dimapur, wherein miscreants had broken in through a window to commit the theft.
In a statement, ANSTA president, Ponchulo Wanth and general secretary Visato Koso said that the incident had created problems for students, teachers, parents and the offices of NBSE and SCERT.
It requested that an Inquiry Committee be set up to probe the incident and penalize the guilty in accordance with departmental law.
Meanwhile, ANSTA informed the teaching community that the exams for Science which was held on the first day will be taken as is. It further said that the exams for the remaining subjects will be held as per the new routine outlined by NBSE, beginning November 30, and requested teachers involved to bear with the inconveniences. It also encouraged the students not to panic but to study hard since the situation was under control.
ANSTA appreciated NBSE’s swift action by cancelling the concerned exam centre as an immediate penal action, and further asked that it come up with some preventive measures to prevent theft/leakage of confidential papers, in consultation with the stakeholders.