Bengaluru: The coming SSLC and II PU supplementary examinations will bring down the curtains on the printing of board examination question papers and storing them in the government treasuries for safety.
If everything goes according to plan, the Department of Pre University Education (PUE) and the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) could opt for online question paper preparation and distribution for the academic year 2016-17.
According to sources in the state education department, it has been decided to send the question papers online to the examination centres where they will be printed just a few minutes before the examination is held.
The precaution has been taken following the leaking of the 2015-16 final II PU Chemistry question paper, which forced the examination to be rescheduled twice. Investigation revealed that the question paper was leaked from a sub-treasury at Hanagal in Haveri taluk.
Under the new system that has been proposed, multiple question papers will be set, but only one released online to all the examination centre heads a few minutes before the examination.
"The PU question paper leaks showed the state education department in very poor light and so we are now using technology to make sure this is not repeated,” said an officer.
The state government is studying the modules adopted by the Visveswaraya Technological University and the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences for delivering and printing question papers. "The proposal to outsource the printing and distribution of the question papers to the examination centres is not a bad idea as most villages now have broadband and electricity.. Power back-up can be provided and question papers printed easily. It will also be cost effective and prevent malpractice," explained the officer.
