An attempt to cripple PU exam system

The leak of the Mathematics and Physics papers within a span of three days is being suspected to be part of a pre-meditated design to cripple the Department of Pre-University Education’s (DPUE) existing examination system.

This is for the first time in its history that the DPUE, which will have to adopt the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for I PU Science stream from next year, faces a serious crisis of credibility.

Once the Physics paper was leaked and the manner in which all three sets were distributed -- in some places free of cost — raised doubts among DPUE officials that it could be the work of private colleges acting in tandem with some of its own staff to scuttle the NCF. “This is being suspected to be one of the motivating factors for the network to leak the two papers within a span of three days,” an official said.

A powerful lobby, comprising officials from some private colleges, a platform of businessmen owning companies that publish/print PU-level textbooks and some private coaching institutes are being suspected to have engineered the leaks in their bid to defeat the NCF’s implementation.

The lobby is peeved at Rashmi V Mahesh, Commissioner, DPUE, for many reasons. The adoption of the NCF for I PUC Science is one of them. The NCF’s adoption will severely damage the interests of private colleges and coaching centres. A uniform syllabus will mean students will not have to pay separately for various entrance examinations.

What’s more, there are reports of the leakage of all four core subjects in the science stream. The Biology paper, held on March 16, is also suspected to have been leaked. The DPUE, however, has denied it.

This year’s II PUC examination may go down in history as one of the most embarrassing for the DPUE. But is the DPUE so incompetent that it cannot guard the question papers of one of the most important examination of a student’s career?

It is not. Rashmi has raised doubts about the motive of the scamsters. “They are not after money. Why else would the leaked question papers be distributed free to the students? The entire system is the target,” she said.

If well-placed sources are to be believed, the scamsters want to oust Rashmi. The involvement of private college lobby has not been ruled out. That the leaked papers were being distributed at private colleges and coaching institutes only leads credence to this suspicion.

Besides, the textbook lobby is angry. The NCF will ensure there is a single textbook for all PUC streams. So, the multiple textbooks will vanish from the market.

The introduction of online counselling for admission to undergraduate courses is another thorn in the private colleges’ flesh.

Sources privy to the development said that the finger was now being pointed at Rashmi and her credibility is at stake.