Additionally, the Council has directed that all CCTV footage must be stored securely by venue supervisors for one month after the exams, until April 18. Authorities may inspect the recordings if needed.The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) for the first time have printed the venue of the examination in the admit cards to prevent any confusion regarding centres for examinees, this year.Council president Chiranjeeb Bhattacharya on Wednesday said, “Last year in Malda, some of the students reached wrong venue. So that there is no such incident this year, we have decided to print the exam centres on the admit cards.”The Higher Secondary examinations will be held at 2,089 centres from March 3 to March 18.This year the total number of students appearing for the exams is 5.09 lakh, out of which 54.68% are girls and 45.32% are boys. “In all the districts, we are seeing number of girls appearing for the exam are more than boys,” Bhattacharya said, adding that the number of girls appearing for the exams, this year, is around 47,571.According to Bhattacharya there has been a drop in the number of students appearing for the Higher Secondary examinations from those who had enrolled. “In 2023, 5,65,428 candidates had appeared for the Madhyamik (Class 10), but we see that 5.09 lakh are appearing for the Higher Secondary exams. This is because many students chose to opt for diploma courses or other professional courses for which Class 12 is not mandatory,” Bhattacharya said.To ensure a secure examination process, the WBCHSE has made CCTV surveillance mandatory at all examination centers for the upcoming Higher Secondary (HS) exams.“CCTV cameras must be installed at the entry gates of all exam centres and inside venue supervisors’ (confidential) rooms. The move aims to maintain the confidentiality of question papers and the sanctity of the examinations. We introduced CCTV surveillance last year and have decided to continue it to maintain the sanctity of the exams. This has been communicated at every district-level meeting, and now we have officially notified all concerned authorities,” he said.Story continues below this adAdditionally, the Council has directed that all CCTV footage must be stored securely by venue supervisors for one month after the exams, until April 18. Authorities may inspect the recordings if needed.“Each question paper will have a digitally printed serial number, which the students have to write on the top right hand side of their answer sheet. The security measure is being taken so that the question paper cannot be copied. Also, there is zero tolerance regarding mobiles or any electronic gadgets in the examination hall. If any examinee is found with any form of electronic gadgets, be it mobile or smart phones, their entire examination for all subjects will be cancelled this year,” Bhattacharya said.Additionally, the exam centers will have metal detectors installed at the entrance. “The supervisors are advised to make strict usage of the metal detector for frisking and to prevent carrying any kind of mobile phone/ electronics devices,” said Bhattacharya.© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Kolkata