On February 28, students had a harrowing experience when the Chemistry paper, set by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), had not one but four printing errors.
The MSBSHSE board was heavily criticised after which the members of the board assured that after a meeting with moderators, extra marks will be allocated to the students.
Accordingly, the same proposal was sent to State Education Minister Vinod Tawde by district Walva’s Nationalist Congress Party student wing, Rashtrawadi Vidyarthi Congress under the leadership of MLA Jayant Patil.
Members of Rashtrawadi Vidyarthi Congress told the legislative assembly that Maharashtra board should not give extra seven marks to only those students who attempted the wrong question but they should give extra marks to all students as it was the board’s mistake wherein they put student’s career at risk. The members of the students' wing said that the board should learn from their mistake and should take extra care during examinations.
Also Read: CBSE To Reconduct Class XII Economics, Class X Maths Exams
Replying to the question raised by the students wing, State Education Minister Vinod Tawde said that he would soon ask the Maharashtra Board to submit a report and accordingly, will allot seven marks to all students.
On 28 February 2018, a 17-year-old Maharshi Dayanand College student was found in a bathroom fidgeting with his mobile phone, few hours before the exam. Seeing the student busy on his phone, professor Dharmesh Mehta asked the student to hand him over the phone. Mehta realised that the student was sharing the Chemistry question paper of 2018 on Whatsapp.
The teacher then immediately informed senior professors and the principal about the same who then informed Bhoiwada police.
Acting on the complaint filed by college teacher Dharmesh Satish Mehta (49), Bhoiwada Police registered an offence under section 5 (1) of Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and other specified Examinations Act, 1982, Section 5 (1), (2) and section 72 of Information Technology Act, informed S Jaykumar, additional commissioner of police, Central Region.