Errors in the software used for processing exam results data of 9 lakh intermediate students in Telangana could have led to discrepancies in the Intermediate examination results, suggests the three-member expert committee set by Telangana government. The committee will be submitting their 10-page report to the government on Friday.
Soon after the intermediate results were announced in Telangana, as many as 3 lakh students were found to have failed the exams. Close to 20 students across the state have taken their own lives, allegedly upset with the results. Students and parents have been protesting in front of the office of Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE) the nodal agency for conducting the intermediate exams over these discrepancies.
The discrepancies ranged from marking students as ‘absent’ or ‘fail,’ even though they had cleared the exams, to the printing of wrong subject name on the student’s mark sheet. Based on the complaints by parents, the TSBIE appointed a three-member team to find the root causes behind the goof up.
The data processing was conducted by a Hyderabad-based firm, Globarena Technology services, using in-built software.
Speaking to TNM, one of the committee members said, “There are multiple issues, the software, execution, code followed by officials and others. The question is about the overall approach to the exam. The way they conduct the exam, the standard protocol needs to be looked over again.”
"It’s not just the software that is at fault but the overall deployment of the examination process by TSBIE," the member added.
The member pointed out that not all 9 lakh students but only a small percentage of students were affected. “There are many errors though relatively small they are not acceptable. Only a small percentage of error but even that is not acceptable here,” the member added.
The three-member committee has looked into the technical aspects of the process adopted by TSBIE. “We have covered many points and have made suggestions. Our intention is not to put anyone in trouble but to find a way forward in the coming years. We hope the government will take it up. Our immediate concern is for the students and what remedies can be adopted for the next one week has also been suggested,” said the member.
Until 2017, the data processing of exam results was handled by the Center for Good Governance (CGG), while the result processing was carried out by other private agencies. But the two processes were merged by TSBIE to make it easier for “administrative purposes".
“There is very little information at the moment as to the reasons behind combining the two processes and giving it to a single firm, it sure does help for administrative purposes. Those who took the decision in 2017 have since retired from service,” said a senior official with the TSBIE.