Bengaluru: The Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has made CCTV cameras mandatory at all SSLC exam centres across the state this year to bring down exam malpractices.
But on the ground, hundreds of centres are yet to install CCTV cameras because of lack of funds.
Sources in the education department said that all private schools have already installed CCTVs following strict guidelines issued by the department and the police.
But the problem is with government high schools which are yet to get such cameras.
As per the timetable announced by the KSEEB, exams will start on March 30 and conclude on April 12.
According to an estimation, every centre needs about Rs 14,000 to Rs16,000 to install CCTV cameras, besides ensuring uninterested power supply.
“In every district, nodal officials were appointed to ensure that all the examination centers are fitted with CCTV cameras. All school heads were also directed to arrange money locally or use the contingency funds. Financial aid has been sought even under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA). But even after all these efforts, more than half of examination centers in government high schools are expected to remain without CCTV cameras,” an officer said.
Pressure on private schools
Officials said that all the rules and regulations are imposed only on private schools, while keeping out government schools from the purview of the action plan.
“After a spate of sexual assault incidents, the government had directed all private schools to install CCTV cameras, but had not included government schools in the order. Though malpractices in SSLC exams are reported from both government and private high school examination centres, only private schools have been told to follow all the rules. Government schools are escaping the rule, under the pretext of lack of funds,” said another officer.
