REET exam: ‘Feudal’ measures to foil cheating

To prevent candidates from resorting to unfair means during REET examination, even today age-old feudal measures like taking off scarves and dupattas are adopted by authorities before allowing examinees to enter the hall.

In addition to this, those who came wearing or carrying valuables were asked to remove them.The aspirants, as mentioned in the admit card, were not allowed to bring any electronics, wrist watches, chain, earrings, lockets, purses and handbags. They were only allowed to bring on black or blue ball pen. There was no mention that the pen had to be transparent. However, aspirants at several examination centres were asked to throw away the pen in case the body of the pen wasn’t transparent.

“Some candidates were asked to give the paper using re-fill only,” said Rajesh Kamal, a REET Level 2 aspirant.

It is to be noted that there were no proper facilities to keep the valuables and bags. The personal articles were seen lying outside the main building, which was being guarded by a few staff members at the examination centre. “During the second examination, a son of one of the candidates started crying while she was writing the paper. Nothing could’ve been done, but thankfully he fell asleep after sometime,” said a caretaker at Raja Ramdev Poddar Senior Secondary School.

The police constable deputed at the venue further said that there is an increase in the amount of technology being used to promote cheating in the examination, and appropriate measures need to be taken.