Board debars 64 SSC students for 2 years

MUMBAI, August 20: The inquiry into irregularities in the Secondary School Certificate SSC examination conducted in March 1999 has been...

MUMBAI, August 20: The inquiry into irregularities in the Secondary School Certificate SSC examination conducted in March 1999 has been completed, with 64 of the 234 students who were interrogated found guilty of malpractices. They have consequently been debarred from taking the SSC examination till October 2001 by the Mumbai divisional board of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, which issued a notice on August 16.

The inquiry was conducted following an order of the Bombay High Court on June 24 after irregularities in the Swami Dayanand Saraswati High School at Malad surfaced. The board had withheld the results of 234 students who were found to have taken the SSC exam with fake eligibility documents. Some were found to have been allotted marks in the Science practicals without having taken the examination.

The inquiry report states that the results of 103 of the 234 students have been declared. The results of 51 students have, however, been withheld as they were found to have taken the SSC exam from an unrecognised school, Carmelite High School in Bhayander E.

Secretary of the Mumbai divisional board, Arvind Dixit, told Express Newsline: 8220;After a thorough investigation we realised that these students those debarred had given wrong information and false documents. Though they had failed in Std VIII and IX, they appeared as regular students for the SSC exam. Which is why we have debarred them.8221;

As for the 51 students whose results have been withheld, Dixit says their marksheets will be released only once the school secures recognition.

The principal of Swami Dayanand Saraswati School, however, has been allowed to go scot-free. Howeever, Dixit says: 8220;We have not allowed anyone to go scot-free. We have recommended withdrawal of the school8217;s index number and its derecognition to the deputy director of the education. It will be done as per the procedure.8221;

Parents of the debarred students are, however, upset with the board8217;s decision to debar their children, saying they will appeal against the board8217;s move. 8220;Why punish the students? They have been made scapegoats for the principal8217;s folly. We shall first register our protest with the board and then move court if that does not work,8221; says Vishnu Biyani, one of the aggrieved parents.