External examiners are back for SSC, HSC board practicals

Earlier, for practical examination, the students were monitored by an internal as well as external examiner. This rule was suddenly stopped and only internal examiners (from the same school/college) were given the responsibility to judge students' performance.

After being discontinued for the past few years, external examiners — who were part of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education's (MSBSHSE) practical examination for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) — will once again become part of the setup from the upcoming board exams in 2016.

The state board on Monday issued a circular informing all affiliated schools and colleges about this update. The decision was taken by education ministerVinod Tawde following demands and complaints from various organisations, including the Mumbai Junior College Teachers Organisation (MJCTO), stating the absence of external examiners is leading to malpractices.

Earlier, for practical examination, the students were monitored by an internal as well as external examiner. This rule was suddenly stopped and only internal examiners (from the same school/college) were given the responsibility to judge students' performance.

Anil Deshmukh, general secretary, MJCTO, said: "We were behind the education minister to bring back external examiners for practical board examination and thankfully, he has agreed. In September this year, he assured us that he would ask the state board to issue a circular regarding the same. We thank the education minister for this move. A lot of malpractices used to take place during the practical examinations as internal examiners favoured a few set of students."

Now, the institutions will have to pay the external examiners, who along with internal examiners, would conduct the board practical exams for the SSC and HSC.

Duttatray Jagtap, chairman of Mumbai divisional board, said: "We received several complaints from students and organizations that the absence of external examiners is leading to lot of malpractices. Hence, the board decided to take this step and issued a circular to bring back external examiners for the upcoming board examination."

Source: Daily News and Analysis dated 17 December, 2015