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| Burning issue |
Jorhat, April 10: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) activists today locked the office of the principal of Nakachari Higher Secondary School, about 30km south-east from here.
The student union’s action comes in the wake of its demand for removal of the school’s principal (in-charge) Siva Prasad Kataky, for his alleged role in a goof-up committed while evaluating answer scripts of an internal evaluation examination of economics held in December 2007.
Nakachari unit AASU president Dhruba Gogoi said a few days back, members of the union had recovered over 50 answer scripts of economics from a grocery shop at nearby Debrapar Chariali, which were found to be of the internal evaluation examination conducted for students, who were to appear for their higher secondary finals in 2008. Gogoi also said in all answer scripts, only the total marks a student secured was written on the top of the first page of the sheet and there was no individual marking against each answer.
“Though the negligence has come to light now, it shows how irresponsible a teacher could be. How can the total marks be given without evaluating each answer and those being awarded marks accordingly?” the AASU unit general secretary asked. He said though the matter was brought to the notice of Jorhat deputy commissioner R.C. Jain, who directed the inspector of schools Kamal Jyoti Gogoi to inquire into the allegations, Kataky has not yet been suspended.
Kamal Jyoti Gogoi said he had already conducted the inquiry and submitted the report to the director of secondary education, Guwahati. He added that though the matter was quite old but according to the rule, the teacher should have given marks against each answer.
“Not giving marks against each answer in answer scripts was an error done by the teacher. Now it is up to the higher authorities whether they will take any action against Kataky or not,” the inspector of schools said.
Kamal Jyoti Gogoi also said answer sheets should be destroyed after six months from the date of examination. He said he had sent an official to the school to discuss the matter with AASU representatives and remove the lock from the principal’s room. Attempts to contact Kataky failed, as he had reportedly left his mobile phone at home.
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