CBSE denies question leak, students in UAE relieved

Dubai - The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) refuted all claims.

Indian parents, and students living in the UAE attempting the Grade 12 board exams, have heaved a sigh of relief.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) refuted all claims that the question papers for the accountancy exams have leaked, adding that 'miscreants' shot a picture of the paper mid- examination and circulated it on social media.
The CBSE accountancy exams took place on Thursday, March 15, and board authorities have confirmed that "there has been no leakage of the question paper. All the seals (of packed question papers) have been found intact at all the exam centres," said Rama Sharma, senior public relations officer with the CBSE.
"During the process of examination, however, at the local level, some miscreants have tried to play mischief by circulating messages through Whatsapp and other social media to disturb the sanctity of examinations." The statement also added that the board has decided to take strict action against such activities and an FIR was lodged by CBSE on March 15.
School authorities in the UAE informed Khaleej Times that they learnt of the alleged leak after the exam got over, which was at around 12pm. Beena Jacob, a school teacher in Sharjah, said: "I got messages on Whatsapp that said that the paper has been leaked after I finished invigilation. I was in for a shock. The students had completed the exams and were on their way home. We are relieved that a retest is not needed, that would've been very hard."
However, parents and students attempting the exam said that they are relieved the news was false. Anuradha Panicker, a Grade 12 student in Dubai, said: "The exam wasn't too difficult and most of my friends and I came out relieved about the tests. But when we heard rumours that we may need to attempt it again, I did get very worried."
Rumours about question paper leaks, especially with Indian state and Central board exams are common. Earlier this month, rumours of the Grade 10 Odiya (state language of Orrisa) question papers being leaked had also gone viral. However, the board refuted the claim.
A total of 1.6 million Indian students are attempting the board exam this year, of which 22,542 are in the Gulf region.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com