Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 04:
Secretary of Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur N Kunjabihari has claimed that the conduct of the Higher Secondary Examination was normal today despite the Statewide 18-hour long general strike called by various social organisations to protest the excesses of police commandos on Maibam Naobi.
Addressing a press conference this evening, Kunjabihari said most of the students appeared in the examination in both the morning and afternoon session.
Initially there was apprehension that the general strike might hamper in the smooth conduct of the examination.
But with the stringent security measures taken up by the State Govt, most of the students could appear in the examination without any fear, he said.
7248 candidates wrote the examination in all the 27 examination centres located in the valley district, as against the total eligible 7248 candidates today, he informed.
The number of candidates who stayed away from writing their examination today is 504 as against 470 candidates who did not turn up the first day of examination on March 1, he said adding that based on this calculation, it would be wrong to say the general strike had its impact on the examination.
The candidates who did not turn up today might be due to their unpreparedness, he maintained.
When pointed to the possibility of candidates unable to give their examination as there was no transportation on account of the general strike, the Secretary categorically stated that the Council has received no such complaint.
As a matter of fact, he added, it is not the responsibility of the Council, but of the parents/guardians to ensure transportation of the candidates.
On the incident of snatching questions papers by some miscreants at MM Higher Secondary School, the Council secretary informed that the examination was carrying out smooth with supply of fresh question papers to the candidates after 20 minutes.
The incident happened before the security personnel deployed at the examination arrived, he clarified.
Controller of Examination of the Council P Chourajit, who was also present during the conference, chipped in to clarify that the datas being provided relates to the examination centre located in the valley district.
The reports from the centres in the hill districts have not been received.