Two days after Kerala Education Minister C Raveendranath decided to cancel the SSLC mathematics examination and conduct a re-examination, reports indicate that it was not just the mathematics paper that had questions repeated from a model exam.
Now it appears that this is not an isolated incident. On Monday, several media outlets reported that majority of the questions that came in the Class 11 Geography question paper were repetitions from the preparatory exam.
According to reports, 43 marks out of the total 60 marks were repeat questions in the Geography examination held on March 21. Not only were the questions repetitive, but in the case of objective type questions, even the options turned out to be the same, reports MediaOne.
It is KSTA, a left-leaning teacher's union that reportedly prepared the question papers for the model exam.
It was on Saturday that the minister decided to cancel the SSLC mathematics examination after many questions turned out to be repetitions from the earlier model exam. With 13 questions repeated in the paper, a re-examination will now be held on March 30.
A probe into the mathematics paper found that the teacher who prepared the question paper for the SSLC exam had links with Malappuram-based Malabar Education Research Institute Society, an agency that sets model question papers.
While the Education Minister had decided to conduct a re-examination of mathematics considering the "future of the students," it remains to be seen what action the government will take following the latest revelations.
Congress student body KSU (Kerala Students Union) held a protest march in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday over the controversy, with newly appointed KPCC interim president MM Hassan leading the agitation. As the march turned violent, the police had to use tear gas to disperse the protesters.
Meanwhile, former Education Minister Abdu Rabb has taken the opportunity to hit out at the LDF government over the issue.
Ironically, Abdu Rabb's tenure as Education Minister in the Congress government was mired in controversies, including irregularities in the conduct of exams and publishing of results.
Speaking to Mathrubhumi, he criticized DYFI and SFI- both leftist organizations- for having jumped at every "minor" glitch of the Congress government.
"They are now remaining silent. DYFI and SFI blew controversies out of proportion during my tenure. Although such minor glitches are part of the process of conducting examination, it is the first time in the history that such a grave error has occurred," Abdu Rabb remarked.
He also pointed out that the Education Department must be cautious enough to prevent such instances that causes mental stress for the students.