Can't wear shoes to exam halls in Bihar, 'novel' initiative to tackle cheating

In a state which has made headlines many a times for malpractice during the examinations, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has come up with a novel idea. The BSEB has directed students to not enter exam halls with shoes or socks and instead write exams only in slippers.

It was observed in the past that students used to hide chits or notes in shoes and socks to cheat during the exams. Since it is time consuming to check shoes and socks of every student, the BSEB has barred students from wearing shoes to exam halls. "It is time consuming to make students take off their socks and shoes to conduct a check that is why such a decision was taken.The system is already in practice. Exams are being held in a fair manner," state education minister told news agency ANI. Nearly 17.70 lakh students will sit for the Class 10 exams at 1,426 centres across the state starting from February 21. Nearly 1,000 students were penalised for cheating during the Class 12 exams that concluded last Saturday, a Hindustan Times report said.

"There is nothing new in this order to students appearing in Class 10 exams from February 21. It is a usual practice in other examinations held in the state. The board decided to adopt the practice from this year," an HT report quoted BSEB chairman Anand Kishor as saying. In recent times, students have also tried to sneak in calculators and other electronic devices to the exams halls. With the advent of technology and gadgets becoming smaller and smaller, examiners face a tough task to make absolutely sure that exams are held in fair manner.