Teachers' unions make good money from question paper contract
- The preparation and printing of question papers of model examinations at higher secondary level have become a handsome business for teachers’ organizations in the state
- 'There is a nexus between private tuition centres and those who prepare question papers'
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Closely after the government decided to conduct a re-examination of the SSLC Mathematics paper after it was found that the question paper was a direct lift from a model paper prepared by a private tuition centre in Kozhikode, the Plus-One Geography examination also came under the scanner. The Geography examination had many questions copied from the model question paper prepared by the KSTA (Kerala State Teachers Association), a pro-CPM organisation.
Related: Kerala SSLC leak! Questions exact copy of model paper of tuition centre; re-exam ordered
Both the examinations exposed the problems in outsourcing question papers, prompting the opposition to allege a massive scam behind it. Ramesh Chennithala, the leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly, suspected massive corruption behind it and demanded a judicial investigation.
Meanwhile, Asianet News investigation found the preparation and printing of question papers of model examinations at higher secondary level have become a handsome business for teachers’ organizations in the state. These organizations make hefty returns to the tune of many lakhs of rupees every year by taking up the printing contract of the model exam papers. But no one knows exactly the dubious business involved in outsourcing and leaking the questions of SSLC and Higher Secondary examinations.
Whenever the Education Department tried to centralize the preparation and printing of model examinations at Higher Secondary level, the teachers’ organizations joined hands to scuttle the move. In 2014, the Department decided to prepare the question papers in collaboration with State Council for Education Research and Training.(SCERT) The organizations have made it a monopoly and make good money out of this every year. Though the Principal of each school is responsible for preparation and printing of model examination question papers of model and half-yearly examinations, the influential teachers’ unions take up the task. The pro-CPM teacher’s organizations and pro-Congress teachers unions divide the schools among themselves when it comes to printing contract of the model examination papers and share the fund.
"The SCERT had decided last year to bring in a centralized system to prepare question papers of exams including the model examination. But the decision was subverted by vested interests," said PC Vishnunath of Congress.
"There is a nexus between private tuition centres and those who prepare question papers. The government should take stern action against it," said AN Shamseer MLA of the CPM.
Harikrishnan, KSTA General Secretary, denied the accusations against teachers' organisations. "We have been demanding for long that the government should take up the preparation and printing of the question papers," he said.
