Kerala teachers’ body seeks withdrawal of order appointing principals as daytime ‘watchmen’ for question papers

Kerala's teachers' association demands withdrawal of an order appointing principals as daytime security for exam question papers.

The Aided Higher Secondary Teachers’ Association (AHSTA) has demanded that the Kerala Education department withdraw its order giving school principals, who are appointed as exam chief superintendents, the charge of security of question papers during daytime, including on holidays.

The public exams for higher secondary classes are scheduled to start on March 5 and end on March 28. The question papers are set to be distributed to schools from February 25. The order issued by N.S.K. Umesh, Director, General Education, says office assistants, clerks, and lab assistants could be deployed as watchmen during the night. During daytime, including on holidays, the respective chief exam superintendents should be given the charge. The exam authorities have also been asked to ensure that the facility has 24-hour CCTV surveillance.

In a statement, S. Manoj, AHSTA president, says school principals, who also assume the charge of the chief superintendents, will be forced to come to the schools even on Sundays. Those who have been appointed as chief superintendents in unaided schools will be asked to reach those unfamiliar places during daytime.

Mr. Manoj alleged that the order “insults” school principals, who are also the head of their institutions.

He said if the government has no other options to ensure the security of question papers, it should hire security guards from approved security agencies for the job.