Sajag Nagarik Manch posts HSC answers on FB

“We had given the state board sufficient time to make public model-answers on its website. The officials concerned, however, failed to understand the gravity of the issue. The authorities are of the view that model-answers are confidential and cannot be made public. But these so-called confidential documents, accessed under RTI, are now available on social media like Facebook. It is a big embarrassment for the state board,” Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagarik Manch said.

The model answers serve as a tool for deciding marks to be awarded for a particular answer. He demanded that the state board, in future, make answers of important subjects public, if not all subjects.

When contacted, board chairman Gangadhar Mhamane said a policy decision was needed for making the answers public. “We will consider the demand positively. As of now, teachers are there to guide students whether to go for verification and revaluation of marks. Therefore, model answers are not sole guidance,” he said.

Mhamane evaded queries on possible commercial use of model-answers by vested interests since these “confidential” documents are out out in public domain.

The advocacy group last week said model answers of physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology it got through RTI would be posted on Facebook by Monday if the board does not make it public on its own on its official website, as demanded by students.

Ashwin Joshi, a student who cleared HSC examination in science, said publishing the answers would be a student-centric move.

“The move will not only benefit thousands of students, but would also help the state board as number of applications for verification of marks and photocopies of answer-sheets could go down. The model answers will resolve doubts and queries related to paper assessment,” he said.