3,739 squads to monitor II PU examinations

These squads have been divided into four categories - 93 district squads, 536 taluk squads, 32 central squads and 2,145 special invigilators. While no closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be installed at any examination centre, the Department of Pre-University Education (PUE) has exuded confidence in fending off possible instances of malpractice.

The department also sounded certain that no question paper would be leaked. The question papers have been sealed twice and wrapped in three covers. They will reach all districts and taluks not more than two days before the examination. There, the question papers will be stored in a strong room to be guarded by the jurisdictional police.

The papers will be sent to the respective examination centres between 6 am and 8 am, R Basavarajappa, Joint Director (Examinations) of the department, said. “We have taken every possible care to prevent malpractices. We are sure that no paper has been leaked so far,” he told Deccan Herald.

The department has also started a helpline (1800-42521234) to receive complaints about malpractices and disturbances during the examination. But the helpline will function only from 8 am to noon as examination of all subjects, barring four, will be conducted in the morning.

Evaluation of answer scripts will begin at 39 centres in six cities - Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Davangere, Shimoga and Belgaum on April 7 and the department hopes to complete the whole process in 20 days. The results will be declared in the last week of April or the first week of May, Basavarajappa said.

Adopt ‘realistic’ approach: Experts

Experts have advised the students and parents to develop a "realistic" approach to the II PUC exams. While students should have “minimal communication” with their peers and be cautious about studying new topics before the examination, parents should avoid “critical” comments about their wards’ performance.

Examinees should talk very little with their peers and people who give negative signals about their performance in the examination hall. Also, they should concentrate on what they have studied so far, instead of picking up new topics for study.

“You cannot study in 24 hours what you have not studied in the last few months,” is the advice of H S Nagaraja, Founder Director of BASE, a coaching centre in the City.

Another important point to be kept in mind is that students should not think about the upcoming entrance tests like CET and Comed-K now. For parents, Nagaraja’s advice is: stop judging your wards’ performance at this juncture.