Bihar Board Exams Descend into Chaos on Opening Day
The commencement of the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Matriculation examinations on Tuesday was marred by widespread disorder, security lapses, and desperate attempts by students to enter centers, setting a troubling tone for the annual assessments. The day unfolded with a series of incidents that exposed significant flaws in the examination process, from unauthorized live streaming to risky physical entries and blatant cheating.
Facebook Live Stream from Exam Center Sparks Outrage
In a shocking breach of protocol, a Facebook Live broadcast was conducted from the handle of an official at Gorakh Prasad Private ITI in Siwan, an examination center, just minutes before the exam began. The live stream, which showed students already seated inside the hall, was widely shared on social media, raising serious questions about adherence to security measures, particularly the strict ban on mobile phones within examination premises. The video was later deleted, but not before it went viral, prompting immediate action from authorities.
Vikas Kumar, the Station House Officer of Daraunda police station, confirmed that ITI principal Pankaj Kumar was arrested following a complaint, and his mobile phone was seized. The viral footage was reportedly shot by ITI director Prince Singh, who is currently absconding, with police conducting raids for his arrest. Anita Sinha, the Maharajganj sub-divisional officer-cum-super zonal magistrate, swiftly initiated an inquiry, noting that the video was taken before the exam started and preliminary findings indicated it was not made by any candidate.
Students Resort to Extreme Measures for Entry
Across multiple districts, late-arriving students engaged in hazardous activities to gain access to examination centers, highlighting logistical and timing issues. In Patna, a student at Devipad Choudhary Shaheed Smarak Miller High School attempted to scale a 10-foot boundary wall but was intercepted by security and denied entry due to tardiness. Similarly, at Gardanibagh Girls Higher Secondary School, a girl was seen climbing the gate to enter the premises.
Incidents of wall-climbing were rampant in other regions:
- In Buxar, a student managed to scale the center's boundary wall and enter.
- In Begusarai, three students climbed walls to gain access.
- At VM Inter College in Gopalganj, approximately five to six girls reportedly entered by scaling the boundary.
- In Munger's NC Ghosh Plus Two High School in Jamalpur, another student jumped the wall to join the examination.
- In Siwan, a late-arriving student, denied entry, climbed onto the school gate before being persuaded by family members to come down.
In Bettiah, emotional scenes unfolded as students who failed to reach their center on time broke down outside the gates, with family members blaming traffic congestion for the delays. At Keshav Kanya School in Madhepura, a student fainted while waiting in a queue and was assisted by police personnel deployed at the site.
Cheating Attempts Add to Exam Irregularities
Cheating attempts further compounded the day's irregularities. Outside a center in Munger, a viral video purportedly showed two students engaged in a suspicious exchange—one appearing to consult a cellphone and what looked like a question paper, while the other concealed chits in his trousers. This incident underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining academic integrity during board exams.
Authorities Respond Amidst Growing Concerns
The combined incidents have triggered a wave of concern among education officials and the public, calling for stricter enforcement of exam protocols. The arrest of the ITI principal and the ongoing search for the director highlight the seriousness with which authorities are treating the security breach. However, the widespread nature of the chaos suggests systemic issues that may require broader reforms to ensure a smooth and fair examination process in the future.
As the Bihar board exams continue, stakeholders are urging for enhanced vigilance and better management to prevent such disruptions, emphasizing the need for a secure and orderly environment for all students.
